JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – The FGCU baseball team (9-11) jumped out to a 4-1 lead in the top of the third inning, but ETSU (9-9) responded with five unanswered runs en route to claiming game two by a final score of 6-4 Saturday afternoon at Thomas Ballpark.

A two-out, two-run home run off the bat of Kevin Phillips in the bottom of the seventh inning broke a 4-4 tie and proved to be the difference in the game.

Making his first relief appearance of the season, Sterling Koerner (1-3, 5.74) suffered the loss for FGCU after giving up the go-ahead home run. Opposite the Eagles' pitching staff, ETSU starter Lee Haeberle earned the win while Peyton Taylor recorded the save.

"We knew they were a power-hitting team coming into the series, and it proved to be the difference in today's game," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "We let them get a couple of balls up in the air and weren't able to get anything going offensively past the third inning."

Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) got the scoring started with a solo home run to right field in the top of the first inning. It was Selesky's second home run of the season as FGCU scored via the long ball in the opening frame for the second straight day.

FGCU starter Garrett Anderson (Aracdia, Fla./DeSoto County HS) retired the Buccaneers in order in the home half of the first, but ETSU evened the score at one run apiece after Aaron Maher and Phillips led off the bottom of the second with back-to-back doubles.

FGCU quickly reclaimed its early lead with a trio of runs in the top of the third. Selesky ripped a double into the left-center field gap to score Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) before Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) and Zach Spivey (Ormond Beach, Fla./Spruce Creek HS) each drove in a run on infield singles.

Again, the Buccaneers responded in the home half of the inning and scored three runs of their own to tie the score, 4-4. Trey York provided the big hit with a two-run shot over the left-center field fence before Phillips drove in his second run of the game on a RBI groundout to third.

After Garrison Vandeventer (Ocala, Fla./North Marian HS) relieved Anderson to start the fifth, the right-handed sidearmer ran into trouble after the rain began to fall more steadily and issued a walk before hitting a pair of batters to load the bases with two outs. Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS) then entered the game in the bases-loaded jam and induced Lance Mays to hit a slow roller to shortstop Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) to end the Buccaneer scoring threat.

After ETSU went down in order in the bottom of the sixth, Phillips provided the big hit in the next frame to push the Buccaneers ahead.

FGCU then sent the tying run to the plate in each of the next two innings, but ETSU relievers Ryan Simpler and Taylor held the Eagles' offense scoreless to secure the win. Selesky hit a one-out double to the wall in right center in the top of the ninth, but Taylor retired Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) on a fly out to center field and got Bottomley on a come-backer to the mound to end the game.

Selesky turned in his third four-hit game of the season and matched a career high with three doubles to go along with the home run in the game. Additionally, Reardon extended his current hit streak to 12 games while Noll reached base in his 30th consecutive game dating back to last season.

For ETSU, Phillips led the way after going 2-for-3 with a run scored and four RBI.

The rubber match between the Eagles and Bucs is scheduled for Sunday at noon. FGCU right hander Mario Leon (1-1, 4.19) will make his fifth start of the season and be opposed by ETSU's Dillon Cate (1-1, 10.57).

DAVE TOLLETT
In 13+ seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 472-275-3 record (.631) as the only head coach in the program's history. He is a four-time Atlantic Sun Coach of the Year and has guided the Green and Blue to four A-Sun Regular Season Championships. His team has been ranked nationally on several occasions by multiple media outlets and has coached 39 All-Conference selections, 25 draft picks, 16 current minor leaguers, four A-Sun Pitchers of the Year, four All-Americans, one National Freshman Player of the Year, one National Player of the Year and one MLB All-Star.

FOLLOW ALONG
For constant, news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the baseball team on Twitter @FGCU_Baseball, Instagram @FGCU_Baseball or on Facebook: Facebook.com/FGCUBaseball. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.

#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visitwww.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.