TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – After completing a season sweep of in-state rival USF, the FGCU baseball team (11-11) hits the road for a three-game series against defending MEAC Champion and 2015 Gainesville Regional participant Florida A&M (14-6) at Moore-Kittles Field in Tallahasse, Fla. The series opener is scheduled for Thursday at 5 p.m. and will be followed by game two Friday at 5 p.m. and the finale Saturday at noon.
 
The Green and Blue will send right hander Brady Anderson (2-3, 2.48) to the mound to oppose FAMU starter Danny Rodriguez (3-0, 3.13) on Thursday night. In game two, Garrett Anderson (0-0, 3.54) will toe the rubber for FGCU and face southpaw Ricky Page (1-1, 1.84). FGCU's Saturday started is TBD while Chase Jarrell (3-1, 4.71) will take to the mound for FAMU.
 
"We're playing some pretty good baseball right now and are looking forward to the opportunity to keep it going," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "Florida A&M is a tough ball club. They were a tournament team a year ago and have put up some big offensive numbers so far this season. It should be a good, competitive weekend."
 
SCOUTING THE RATTLERS
FAMU is off to a 14-6 start this season after most recently taking two of three games from conference-foe Savannah State last weekend. The Rattlers are 4-1 in weekend series after claiming a season-opening series win against Marshall and also sweeping Western Michigan and Bethune-Cookman. Their lone series loss of the season came against Jackson State with midweek wins also coming against Mercer, Toledo and Alabama State.
 
Offensively, FAMU is led by senior infielder Dylan Dillard, who has been named the MEAC Player of the Week on back-to-back occasions and leads the team with four home runs and 30 RBI to go along with a .384 average, 19 runs scored and 28 hits. Fellow infielder Alec Wong not only leads the team with a .421 average after starting in all 20 games this season, but also ranks tied for 35th in the country in the category. Additionally, eight Rattlers have turned in batting averages of .300 or higher as the team currently ranks 12th in the nation with a .324 clip.
 
In 2015, the Rattlers finished the season with a 23-25 overall record while winning its first MEAC Championship since 1994 and going to its first-ever NCAA Regional. FAMU went 3-0 in the conference tournament with decisive wins against Savannah State, Delaware State and Bethune-Cookman before entering the NCAA Gainesville Regional as the No. 4 seed. The Rattlers then went two-and-out in the NCAA Tournament with losses against No. 3 Florida and No. 21 Florida Atlantic.
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU currently holds a perfect 6-0 record against FAMU. The Eagles went to Tallahassee, Fla., during the 2013 season and defeated the Rattlers in a doubleheader by a score of 13-3 in game one and 13-4 in game two. A year later, FAMU traveled the Swanson Stadium and was swept by the home-standing Eagles, who didn't allow more than three runs in a game and outscored the Rattlers 27-6 in the series. Less than a month later, FGCU made a return trip to Tallahassee and left with a 7-6 win.

THE MATCHUP
In his 14th season of work at FGCU, Tollett has compiled a 474-275-3 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. This weekend, Tollett matches up with FAMU head coach Jamey Shouppe, who is 63-57 in his third second with the program. Shouppe took the Rattlers to its' first-ever NCAA Regional appearance in 2015 and was named the 2014 MEAC Coach of the Year.
 
LAST TIME OUT
Behind a three-run third inning and solid pitching for the majority of the night, FGCU improved to .500 for the first time this season as they defeated USF, 4-3, Tuesday night at Swanson Stadium. With the win, FGCU not only completed a season sweep of the Bulls in the home-and-home series after also claiming a 13-6 win in Tampa on Feb. 23, but the Green and Blue also improved to 10-4 and have now won four of the last five in the all-time series with the in-state rival.

Mario Leon (2-1, 3.71) pitched a career-high 6.1 innings and did not allow an earned run en route to claiming the win for FGCU, while running mate Sterling Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS), who returned to his familiar role out of the bullpen last week, recorded his first save of the season after pitching the final 2.2 innings in near-perfect fashion. Opposite the FGCU staff, Brad Labozzetta, a former teammate of the Eagle upperclassman, suffered the loss for USF.

With FGCU leading 4-3 in the top of the seventh inning, USF loaded the bases with nobody out after the first three batters reached on singles. However, Leon (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) buckled down to strike out the Bulls' three-hole hitter, David Villar, before being relieved by Koerner. The Fort Pierce native then fired one pitch and got out of the inning unscathed as he forced cleanup hitter Duke Stunkel Jr. to ground into a 1-2-3 double play to end the inning and preserve the lead. Koerner was lights out in the final two innings as he allowed only one hit while striking out a pair. He recorded the final eight outs of the game while throwing an efficient 24 pitches.
 
LAST TEN
After facing a trio of NCAA Super Regional teams in its first eight games of the 2016 campaign, FGCU has turned things around and improved to .500 for the first time this season on the strength of winning seven of its last 10 games. As a team, the Green and Blue is hitting .295 during the stretch while averaging 7.4 runs per game on 10.4 hits per game.
 
Individually Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) has led the way with a .375 batting average (15-for-40) and is currently riding a career-high 14-game hitting streak, while Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) has turned in a .341 clip (14-for-41) with an impressive 14 runs, five home runs and 23 RBI and has reached base in a career-high 32 consecutive games. Additionally, Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) is hitting .361 (13-for-36) with a team-high eight doubles and Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) has turned in a .341 clip (15-for-44) with five two-baggers.

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)	282-191-1	153-71
2.	UNF (2008-present)	260-212	117-102
3.	Stetson (2008-present)	251-242	123-99
4.	Kennesaw State (2008-present)	249-230	126-91
5.	Mercer (2008-14)	243-156	115-82
6.	Lipscomb (2008-present)	234-251	112-109
7.	Jacksonville (2008-present)	224-249	105-115
8.	ETSU (2008-14)	197-201	88-110
9.	USC Upstate (2008-present)	183-272	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 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.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	.360
8.	Ian Manson (2005-06)	.359
9.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	.358
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, Brady 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 FAMU 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
The Eagles return to Swanson Stadium and play host to No. 19 FAU for a midweek matchup Tuesday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m. FGCU holds a 9-5 advantage in the all-time series against the Owls, including a 4-4 mark at home, and have won two of the last three games.
 
DAVE TOLLETT
In 13+ seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 474-275-3 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.