EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Embarking on its third road series in as many weekends, the FGCU baseball team (13-13) was shut out for the second time this season in a 1-0 decision in the series opener against Evansville (13-11) Friday night at Braun Stadium.

A solo home run off the bat of second baseman Trey Hair in the bottom of the third inning was all of the offensive production from either team as a combined 12 hits were registered Friday night.

Brady Anderson (3-4, 2.80) suffered the tough luck loss for the Green and Blue after allowing the lone blemish in 7.0 innings pitched to go along with three walks and five strikeouts. Evansville starter Connor Strain (3-1, 0.54) earned the win after pitching 7.0 scoreless. He was relieved by right hander Brent Jurceka, who pitched the final 2.0 innings in perfect fashion to earn his third save of the season.

"Brady pitched well, but we couldn't get anything going offensively tonight," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "We missed out on an opportunity there in the sixth and that came back to haunt us. We'll be right back after it trying to win a couple of games tomorrow."

After the Hair home run, FGCU had an opportunity to tie the score in the top of the sixth inning when Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) and Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) reached on a single and walk to start the frame. However, with the heart of the order coming to bat, the Eagles were unable to capitalize as Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) grounded into a 6-4-3 double play and Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) rolled one over to second base to end the inning.

Anderson (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto County HS) ran into some trouble in the bottom of the frame after allowing a pair of singles and a walk to load the bases, but the redshirt-senior registered a huge out as he was able to get sophomore infielder Stewart Nelson swinging to end the inning and the threat.

Right hander Christian Townsend (Safety Harbor, Fla./Countryside HS) came out of the bullpen and pitched a perfect eighth, including a pair of strikeouts, but the FGCU bats never got going as they went down in order in the final three innings to end the game.

The Green and Blue was held to only four hits in the game, matching a season low previously recorded on two separate occasions at then-No. 1 Florida and against Rutgers. Reardon extended his career-high hit streak to 18 games, while Selesky reached base in the 19th consecutive contest. However, Noll went hitless for only the fourth time this season and saw a career-high, 35-game on-base streak snapped in a 0-for-4 performance.

The two teams will play a pair of games tomorrow starting at 1 p.m. Garrett Anderson (1-0, 3.76) will get the start in the first of two opposite right hander Patrick Schnieders (2-1, 2.64), while Ryan Lang (2-2, 6.18) will return from a two-week absence to face southpaw Alex Weigand (1-1, 5.47) in the series finale.

After its only other shutout loss this season, FGCU responded to win five of the next seven games while scoring 67 runs on 83 hits.

DAVE TOLLETT
In 13+ seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 476-277-3 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.