FORT MYERS, Fla. – Coming off a series win in the conference opener against Stetson last weekend, the FGCU baseball team (15-17, 2-1 A-Sun) hosts No. 16 FAU (23-6, 9-3 C-USA) Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in a game originally scheduled for March 29 but postponed due to inclement weather.
 
Tuesday's game versus the in-state Owls marks FGCU's fourth contest versus a team that has been ranked at some point this season with it being the team's first at Swanson Stadium. Additionally, FAU is the Eagles' sixth opponent this season that appeared in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.
 
FGCU will send redshirt-sophomore Mario Leon (2-2, 4.89) to the mound to oppose FAU starter David McKay (2-2, 3.46). After starting the season in the weekend rotation, Leon's (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) last two starts have come in a midweek capacity, including a 6.1-inning performance in a 4-3 win against in-state rival USF on March 22.
 
"It's a great opportunity for us to have a ranked team come into Swanson Stadium," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "We're very familiar with them, and they have a great program. Coach McCormack and those guys do a great job over there. We're looking forward to the challenge, and it should be a great game." 
 
SCOUTING THE OWLS
The Owls enter Tuesday's game with a 23-6 overall record and No. 16 national ranking after most recently dropping two of three to C-USA foe Charlotte last weekend. FAU has won a total of nine two and three-game series this season, including a pair of games at then-No. 11 Mississippi State to start the season. Against a pair of familiar opponents in Rutgers and Florida, the Owls won two of three against the Scarlet Knights while dropping a 2-1 decision in a midweek matchup against then-No. 1 Florida last week.
 
Offensively, FAU has posted a .301 average as a team, led by junior infielder CJ Chatham and redshirt-junior first baseman Esteban Puerta, who have posted .387 and .342 clips, respectively, while appearing and starting in every game this season. Puerta and Stephen Kerr lead the team with a quartet of home runs apiece, while Puerta paces the Owls with 32 RBI.
 
In 2015, FAU turned in a 42-19 overall record to finish second in C-USA behind Rice University. The Owls, who were ranked as high as No. 12 in the country at one point in the season, made a run to the conference semifinals but dropped a 10-0 decision to UAB before earning the No. 2 seed in the Gainesville Regional. FAU lost its opening game of the NCAA Tournament, 5-3, to USF before responding to win an 8-1 game against FAMU and an 8-4 rematch versus USF. Needing to win a pair against No. 3 national seed Florida, the Owls season ended in a 2-1 loss to the Gators.
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU holds a 9-5 advantage in the all-time series against FAU, including a 4-4 mark at home, and have won two of the last three meetings. Tuesday's matchup marks the first of two between the Eagles and Owls in 2016 as FGCU travels to Boca Raton, Fla. on April 19. In their most recent matchup in 2015 at Swanson Stadium, FAU was victorious by a 10-6 margin. However, FGCU won each game of the home-and-home series in 2014 after taking game one in Fort Myers, 1-0, and game two in Boca Raton, 3-2.

THE MATCHUP
In his 14th season of work at FGCU, Tollett has compiled a 478-281-3 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 John McCormack, who has posted a 266-169 record in seven-plus years with FAU. McCormack has led the Owls to a trio of NCAA Regional appearances, most recently in 2015, and was named to 2010 Sun Belt Conference Coach of Year in his second season as the head man in Boca Raton.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
FGCU shortstop Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) went 3-for-4 in the series finale against Stetson and has now hit safely in 24 consecutive games dating back to Feb. 20. The 24-game streak ties former Eagle Josh Chester (2009) for the program record. Reardon missed seven games at the start of the season, but has hit in every game except the season opener at No. 1 Florida. Additionally, Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) has reached base in 25 straight contests, setting a new career high in the category and matching Jake Noll's (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) season-high streak to start the season.

MARCH MADNESS
In 18 games during March, Noll put up monster numbers from the plate, going 30-for-78 (.385) with 22 runs scored, six doubles, seven home runs and 35 RBI. He hit safely in 16 of 18 games while recording multiple hits in eight contests, and recently snapped a career-high 35-game on-base streak that ranked as the fourth-longest such streak in D1 program history, trailing Zach Maxfield (65), Mikel Alvarez (43) and Jason Peacock (41).

PRODUCTION AT THE TOP
The top four hitters in the FGCU order – Reardon, Selesky, Noll and Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) – have been big-time producers through the first 32 games of the season. They not only rank 1-4 in batting average, but have collectively gone 172-for-491 (.350) from the plate. Additionally, the quartet of Eagles have accounted for 98 runs scored (53 percent), 172 hits (56 percent), 39 doubles (63 percent), 10 home runs (77 percent) and 102 RBI (60 percent) to this point in the season.

PLAYERS 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 in 2008, FGCU has not only won more regular-season conference championships (four) than any other member of the A-Sun, but has also won more overall and league games than any other conference opponent. Additionally, the Green and Blue have won 55 of a possible 75 two and three-game conference series in that time frame. The following is list of overall and conference records for teams that have competed in the A-Sun since 2008.
 

No.	School	Overall	A-Sun
1.	FGCU (2008-present)	286-197-1	155-72
2.	UNF (2008-present)	267-216	119-106
3.	Kennesaw State (2008-present)	256-235	131-92
4.	Stetson (2008-present)	256-247	124-101
5.	Mercer (2008-14)	243-156	115-82
6.	Lipscomb (2008-present)	240-256	114-110
7.	Jacksonville (2008-present)	229-255	107-116
8.	ETSU (2008-14)	197-201	88-110
9.	USC Upstate (2008-present)	188-279	78-145
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)	12-18	2-3

 
CLIMBING THE RANKS
Senior designated hitter Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS), who was sidelined with a season-ending wrist injury in game one of a two-game midweek series with Rutgers on March 15, 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), seventh in hits (215) and eighth in runs scored (126). Additionally, his 63 doubles is good for the active lead in the NCAA while his 160 RBI ranks tied for third. Rivera hopes to be eligible to utilize a medical redshirt at the season's end and return in 2017.

Like Rivera, Noll also makes his way up the list of career batting average, hits, RBI and runs scored and nears the program record for stolen bases. Additionally, he holds the seventh-highest active career batting average in the NCAA while ranking eighth among active players in career hits.

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)	.364
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.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	233
7.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	215
8.	Brandon Bednar (2001-13)	206
9.	Jason Cooper (2003-05)	203
10.	Mike Reeves (2010-13)	201

FGCU CAREER RBI

1.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	180
	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	180
3.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	160
4.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	154
5.	Jason Cooper (2003-05)	149
6.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	137
7.	Jason Louwsma (2005-06)	135
8.	Ozzie Borrell (2007-08)	117
9.	Sean Dwyer (20011-13)	114
10.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	112

 
FGCU CAREER RUNS SCORED

1.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	237
2.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	202
3.	Stephen Wickens (2008-11)	178
4.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	158
5.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	156
6.	Chris Perry (2003-06)	134
7.	Jake Smith (2005-08)	129
8.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	126
9.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	124
10.	Jason Cooper (2003-05)	121

 
FGCU CAREER STOLEN BASES

1.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	61
2.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	45
3.	Stephen Wickens (2008-11)	36
4.	Chris Brown (2003-04)	27
5.	Michael Suchy (2012-14)	22

 
On the mound, Brady Anderson (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto County HS) 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)	69
4.	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.	Brady Anderson (2012-present)	248.1
6.	Chris Sale (2008-10)	228.2
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 Green and Blue will welcome conference newcomer NJIT to Swanson Stadium for a three-game weekend series. Game one is scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by game two Saturday at 2 p.m. and the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.

DAVE TOLLETT
In 13+ seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 478-281-3 record (.629) 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.