JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. – In a game that saw three lead changes with at least one run scored in the first eight innings, the FGCU baseball team (10-11) outlasted ETSU (9-10) and clinched the three-game set against the Buccaneers by winning the rubber match, 11-10, Sunday afternoon at Thomas Ballpark.

To cap off the dramatic later innings, ETSU designated hitter Caleb Longley led off the bottom of the ninth inning with a double into the left-center field gap, his third extra-base hit of the afternoon. After pinch-runner Seth Cunningham was sacrificed over to third, Robby McCabe bounced a grounder to FGCU third baseman Nick Blasucci (Fort Myers, Fla./Riverdale HS), who fired a strike to catcher Matt Roberts (Bradenton, Fla./Lakewood Ranch HS) to cut down the game-tying run at the plate. Leadoff hitter Jeremy Taylor then stepped to the plate with three hits on the afternoon and lifted a 2-1 pitch to left field to end the game.

The win not only marked FGCU's third straight weekend series win this season, but also its third straight series win against ETSU after also taking two of three in 2013 and sweeping the Buccaneers in 2014.

"It wasn't pretty, but we got the job done," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "I was happy with the way our guys responded after getting in an early hole, but we have to do a better job of pitching with the lead. ETSU is a good team, and it's nice to get out of here after battling tough conditions with a win."

Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) stepped to the plate in the top of the eighth inning having gone 1-for-his-last-16 and ripped a two-out, two-run double over right fielder Lance Mays' head to extend the FGCU lead to 11-7 at the time and drive in what proved to be the game-winning run.

The Bucs made things interesting in the home half of the frame as they brought nine batters to the plate and scored three runs to cut the FGCU lead to 11-10. With the bases loaded and two outs, FGCU right hander Christian Townsend (Safety Harbor, Fla./Countryside HS) walked in a pair of runs before inducing a ground ball to shortstop Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) to end the inning and maintain the lead before holding on for the win.

The seesaw effect began when FGCU scored a run in the top of the third inning and then exploded for five runs in the next frame to take a 6-3 lead. Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) got the Green and Blue on the scoreboard with a sacrifice fly in the third inning, and the five-run fourth inning followed as Roberts and Reardon each hit RBI doubles while Selesky added another sacrifice fly and Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) drove in a run on a RBI single.

After southpaw pitcher Sawyer Wilson (Clearwater, Fla./St. Petersburg College) held ETSU scoreless in the third and fourth innings, the Bucs narrowed the margin to 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth when McCabe hit a leadoff home run to left field. Parker Hamilton (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter HS) then relieved Wilson to start the sixth and ran into some trouble. The redshirt-sophomore right hander retired one hitter while ETSU plated three runs to reclaim the lead, 7-6. Redshirt-senior Clint Knoblauch (Wellington, Fla./Wellington HS) relieved Hamilton in a tight spot and, after issuing a walk to load the bases with one out, forced ETSU three-hole hitter Hagen Owenby to ground into a 5-3 double play to end the inning and minimize the damage.

FGCU then took advantage of a pair of ETSU fielding miscues and responded with three runs in their next at-bat to again reclaim the lead. After Selesky drew a one-out walk, Noll hit a sharp ground ball to third basemen Blake Rowlett, and it appeared the Bucs would get out of the inning unscathed. However, a poor throw from Rowlett dribbled into shallow center field, allowing Noll to reach on a fielder's choice and Selesky to advance to third. Bottomley then drove in a run after a sharp comebacker to the pitcher appeared to be another double play, but Ryan Simpler's throw to second base brought McCabe off the bag and prevented the twin killing while allowing Selesky to score and tie the game. Blasucci propelled FGCU back out in front as he flipped a single into shallow right field to score Noll. Another ETSU error by second baseman Trey York allowed the third and final run of the inning to score as the Eagles took a 9-7 lead before the dramatic eighth inning.

When all was said and done, Knoblauch (2-0, 9.39) earned the win for FGCU while Townsend recorded his second save of the season and the weekend. Opposite the Green and Blue pitching staff, Simpler suffered the loss.

GAME NOTES
- The win marked FGCU's first this season when trailing after six innings.
- Reardon and Blasucci each recorded their first three-hit games of the season, while Reardon extended his current career-high hitting streak to 13 games.
- Noll reached base on four occasions to extend his current on-base streak to 31 games dating back to last season. Additionally, he has now hit in 19 of 21 games this season.
- Selesky finished the three-game series 6-for-12 from the plate with one home run, four doubles, four runs scored and five RBI.

UP NEXT
The Eagles return to Fort Myers, Fla., for a midweek matchup with in-state rival USF. Earlier this season, FGCU defeated the Bulls, 13-6, in Tampa, Fla. to improve its overall record in the all-time series to 9-4 and win its seventh straight road game in the series.

DAVE TOLLETT
In 13+ seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 473-275-3 record (.632) 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.