FORT MYERS, Fla. – Coming off its third straight weekend series win, the FGCU baseball team (10-11) continues its busy schedule by welcoming in-state rival USF (12-9) to Swanson Stadium for its second midweek matchup against the Bulls Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. The game has been designated a "Blue Out" as all fans are encouraged to wear blue and support the Eagles.
 
Earlier this season, FGCU traveled to Tampa, Fla., and left the USF Baseball Stadium with a 13-6 win against the Bulls, improving its road record in the all-time series to 7-0. Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) led the way for the Eagles as he went 4-for-5 from the plate, while Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) matched a career high with four RBI.
 
On Tuesday, FGCU will send redshirt-sophomore Mario Leon (1-1, 4.87) to the mound to oppose USF starter Brad Labozzetta (1-3, 7.56), who played his redshirt-freshman season with the Eagles in 2014.
 
"We were able to get a win against USF in the early stages of the season, but they're playing some really good baseball after coming off a series win against Michigan State," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "Their numbers don't jump off the page at you, but they seem to get the job done and win close games. It should be a good one tomorrow in front of our home crowd."
 
SCOUTING THE BULLS
USF is 12-9 this season after most recently taking two of three in a series with No. 25 Michigan State in Tampa last weekend. The Bulls have claimed each of their first five weekend series of the season, but are 1-5 in midweek games. Along with their series win against Michigan State, USF has claimed 2-1 series against Liberty, Eastern Michigan and Saint Joe's while sweeping Holy Cross.
 
Offensively, USF is led by David Villar, who leads the team with a .318 batting average to go along with 16 runs scored. Chris Chatfield leads the team from a power standpoint with six doubles, five home runs and 18 RBI. Additionally, Luke Maglich, who is one of three Bulls to appear and start in all 21 games this season, leads the team with 22 hits.

The Bulls are coming off a 2015 NCAA Tournament appearance after posting a 34-26-1 regular-season record and finishing tied for third in the American Conference. USF won the opening game of the Gainesville Regional against FAU, 5-3, but dropped its next two postseason contests by an 8-2 margin against regional host Florida and 8-3 in an elimination-game rematch against the Golden Panthers. It was USF's first NCAA Regional appearance since 2002.
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU holds a 9-4 advantage in the all-time series against USF and most recently defeated the Bulls, 13-6, earlier this season. The Eagles are an impressive 7-0 against USF in Tampa, but have struggled a bit at home, going 2-4 in the all-time series. In 2015, the two teams split a pair of games with the road team emerging victorious in both contests. FGCU won at the USF Baseball Stadium, 6-2, on Feb. 24, before dropping a 8-7 decision at home a month later.

THE MATCHUP
In his 14th season of work at FGCU, Tollett has compiled a 473-275-3 all-time record as the only head coach in program history. Additionally, he is a four-time A-Sun Coach of the Year and has guided the Eagles to four A-Sun Regular Season Championships. On Tuesday, Tollett matches up with USF's Mark Kingston, who is 46-35-1 in his second season with the Bulls. Previously the head coach at Illinois State from 2010-14, Kingston compiled a 173-102 record, while leading the Redbirds to two MVC regular season championships, one conference tournament title and twice broke the program's season wins record.
 
LAST TIME OUT
FGCU traveled to Johnson City, Tenn., and took two of three games from home-standing ETSU last weekend. 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.
 
The Eagles took game one, 7-4, after scoring two or more runs in three of the first four innings and never looked back. ETSU made things interesting with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third inning to cut the FGCU lead to 5-4, but the Eagles capitalized on a Buccaneer fielding error to answer with a pair of runs in their next at-bat and go ahead by the eventual 7-4 final score. After allowing four runs through three innings, Brady Anderson (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto County HS) settled down to hold ETSU scoreless in his last 5.0 innings pitched while retiring 16 of his last 20 batters faced.
 
ETSU then evened the series with a 6-4 win in game two. FGCU again jumped out to an early lead with one run in the first and three runs in the third, but the Buccaneers answered with three runs in the home half of the third inning to tie the game, 4-4. After both teams went scoreless in their next three at-bats, a two-out, two-run home run from Kevin Phillips in the bottom of the seventh inning broke a tie and proved to be the difference in the game. Selesky went 4-for-5 with a home run and matched a career high with three doubles in the game.
 
Finally, in Sunday's finale that saw three lead changes and at least one run scored in the first eight innings, FGCU outlasted ETSU to claim the series by winning the rubber match, 11-10. The Buccaneers moved the tying run 90 feet from scoring the bottom of the ninth, but a nice play from third baseman Nick Blasucci (Fort Myers, Fla./Riverdale HS) prevented the run from scoring as the Eagles preserved the win. Bottomley delivered what proved to be the game-winning run as he hit a two-out, two-run double off the wall in right field in the top of the eighth inning.
 
HOT START
FGCU second baseman Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) is off to a hot start and is on pace to turn in a historic season from the plate. The redshirt-junior currently leads the A-Sun in runs (25), hits (34) and RBI (31) while ranking second in home runs (six) – all coming in his last 11 games – and third in batting average (.370). On a national level, the DI Top 100 prospect ranks sixth in the country in RBI, 15th in hits, 17th in runs scored and 22nd in home runs and looks to close in on a number of single-season program records.
 
PLAYER OF THE WEEK
FGCU has earned a pair of A-Sun Player of the Week honors with Bottomley and Noll both taking home the distinction for the first time in their careers this season. The Eagles earned three weekly awards last season.
 
Bottomley earned the weekly distinction on Feb. 29 after putting up big offensive numbers and helping the Eagles to a pair of wins against 2015 NCAA Tournament teams. The senior outfielder was 8-for-16 from the plate with five RBI, four runs scored, two doubles and two walks and matched a career high with four RBI in a 13-6 win at USF. He then went 5-for-10 from the plate in a three-game series against defending Big Ten Champion Illinois.
 
Noll received the honors on March 14 after he helped lead the Eagles to a 3-1 series win and put up monster numbers from the plate in a four-game series against Quinnipiac. The Punta Gorda native went 11-for-24 from the plate with nine runs scored, three home runs and 15 RBI in five games during the week. He set a career high with five RBI in the series opener against the Bobcats and turned in the first multi-home run game of his career in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday.  
 
CONFERENCE DOMINANCE
Since joining the A-Sun and Division I ranks in 2008, FGCU has not only won more regular season conference championships (four) than any other conference opponent, but has also won at least 20 more overall and league games than any other member of the A-Sun during that time frame.
 

No.	School	Overall	A-Sun
1.	FGCU (2008-present)	281-191-1	153-71
2.	UNF (2008-present)	260-211	117-102
3.	Stetson (2008-present)	251-241	123-99
4.	Kennesaw State (2008-present)	249-229	126-91
5.	Mercer (2008-14)	243-156	115-82
6.	Lipscomb (2008-present)	234-250	112-109
7.	Jacksonville (2008-present)	223-249	105-115
8.	ETSU (2008-14)	197-201	88-110
9.	USC Upstate (2008-present)	181-272	77-141
10.	Belmont (2008-12)	158-139	78-68
11.	Campbell (2008-11)	93-125	31-85
12.	NKU (2013-15)	39-118	14-61
13.	Gardner-Webb (2008)	29-30	15-18
14.	NJIT (2016)	7-11	0-0

 
CLIMBING THE RANKS
Senior designated hitter Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS), who was sidelined with a season-ending wrist injury last week, has made his mark in FGCU program history as he not only holds the career record for doubles with 63, but also ranks among the top 10 in program history in a number of categories. The Cape Coral native ranks third in program history in home runs (26) and RBI (160) while also ranking fourth in games started (182), fifth in games played (187) and sixth in hits (215). Rivera hopes to be eligible to utilize a medical redshirt at the season's end and return in 2017.

Additionally, Noll joins Rivera as he makes his way up the list of career batting average, career hits and nears the program record for stolen bases.

FGCU CAREER BATTING AVERAGE

1.	Chris Brown (2003-04)	.435
2.	David Cox (2003)	.430
3.	Jason Peacock (2007-08)	.380
4.	Jason Cooper (2003-05)	.375
5.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	.371
6.	Jason Kouwsma (2005-06)	.367
7.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	.360
8.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	.360
9.	Ian Manson (2005-06)	.359
10.	Ozzie Borrell (2007-08)	.356

 
FGCU CAREER HITS

1.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	316
2.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	311
3.	Stephen Wickens (2008-11)	259
4.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	247
5.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	241
6.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	215
7.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	214
8.	Brandon Bednar (2001-13)	206
9.	Jason Cooper (2003-05)	203
10.	Mike Reeves (2010-13)	201

 
FGCU CAREER STOLEN BASES

1.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	61
2.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	44
3.	Stephen Wickens (2008-11)	36
4.	Chris Brown (2003-04)	27
5.	Michael Suchy (2012-14)	22

 
On the mound, Anderson also makes his way up the list of career appearances and innings pitched.
 
FGCU CAREER APPEARANCES

1.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	86
2.	RJ Brown (2010-13)	82
3.	Brady Anderson (2012-present)	66
	Jason Kiley (2004-07)	65
5.	Jason Forjet (2009-12)	63

 
FGCU CAREER INNINGS PITCHED

1.	Jason Kiley (2004-07)	284.2
2.	Michael Murray (2013-15)	284.0
3.	Ricky Knapp (2011-13)	283.1
4.	Pete Woodworth (2007-10)	272.2
5.	Chris Sale (2008-10)	228.2
6.	Brady Anderson (2012-present)	225.2
7.	Jason Forjet (2009-12)	220.2
8.	Richie Erath (2008-11, 13)	219.2
9.	Richard Bleier (2006-08)	209.2
10.	Casey Coleman (2006-08)	187.2

 
RECEIVING VOTES
For the third-consecutive year, FGCU was receiving votes in Collegiate Baseball's Fabulous 40 NCAA Division I Preseason Poll. The A-Sun was represented by four teams as defending tournament champion Lipscomb, defending regular season champion UNF and Stetson were also receiving votes. Additionally, as the A-Sun Preseason Honors and Awards were released in January, the Green and Blue were chosen to finish runner-up to UNF in the preseason coaches poll. The Eagles garnered 50 points and received three of eight first-place votes while the Ospreys collected 58 points and four first-place votes. Lipscomb was selected third with 48 points, followed by Stetson in fourth with 43 points and the lone remaining first-place vote and Kennesaw State in fifth after receiving 37 votes. The preseason top five was separated by only 21 points. Jacksonville (28), USC Upstate (14) and conference newcomer NJIT (8) round out the poll.
 
2016 SCHEDULE
The Eagles' schedule features seven teams that participated in the 2015 NCAA Base­ball Tournament including a pair of College World Series participants, an additional Super Regional participant and three conference champions. The seven NCAA Tournament teams include CWS semifinalist, defending SEC Tournament Champion and preseason No. 1 Florida, CWS participant and preseason No. 4 Miami, Super Regional participant Illinois, defending A-Sun Tournament Champion Lipscomb, defending MEAC Tournament Champion Florida A&M and a pair of familiar in-state foes in USF and FAU. A total of 19 games, including the first eight games of the season, will be played against those seven programs.
 
TICKETS
Single-game and season tickets for the 2016 FGCU baseball campaign are now available by calling the FGCU Ticket Office at 239-590-7145 or visiting FGCUTickets.com. The ticket office is also open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. for walk-up service. Single-game tickets are $7 for adults, while youth (12 and under), military and members of the alumni association are admitted for $5. Season tickets are $89 for adults and $59 for youth, military and alumni, but exclude the game against Miami at Hammond Stadium on Apr. 5.
 
NEXT UP
FGCU hits the road for a three-game weekend series against Florida A&M in Tallahassee, Fla. Due to the holiday weekend, game one is scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m., while game two will take place Friday and 5 p.m. followed by the series finale Saturday at noon. The Eagles are 6-0 all-time against the Rattlers and swept them in a three-game series at Swanson Stadium in 2014.
 
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.