JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – In a battle of two teams currently in the top-three of the A-Sun standings, the FGCU baseball team (19-18, 5-1 A-Sun) travels north to take on Jacksonville (22-14, 4-2 A-Sun) in a three-game series at John Session Stadium this weekend. Game one is scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m. followed by game two Saturday at 1 p.m. and the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
FGCU will send Friday-night starter Brady Anderson (5-4, 3.38) to the mound in game one to oppose 2015 A-Sun Freshman and Pitcher of the Year Michael Baumann (5-2, 5.01). In game two, younger brother Garrett Anderson (1-1, 3.99) will face Jacksonville right hander Nathan Disch (5-3, 2.39) before Mario Leon (3-2, 3.88) will return to the Eagles' weekend rotation and get the start Sunday opposite Spencer Stockton (4-3, 3.50).
 
"We're looking forward to a big series against Jacksonville this weekend," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "We're familiar with them from our matchups over the years, and they're certainly a tough opponent. Right now, we're both a couple of teams that sit near the top of the conference standings, and it should be a good series."
 
SCOUTING THE DOLPHINS
Jacksonville enters this weekend's series with a 22-14 overall record and 4-2 mark in the A-Sun, good for third place in the current conference standings. The Dolphins have claimed series wins against UNF and Lipscomb to start league play, and, earlier this year, earned a win in a midweek contest at Florida State. Earlier this week, Jacksonville traveled to Gainesville to face No. 2 Florida and suffered a hard-fought 3-1 loss.
 
Offensively, the Dolphins are led by junior outfielder Austin Hays, who ranks top five in the conference in average (.397), hits (56), RBI (37) and runs scored (35). Additionally, his 13 home runs lead the A-Sun while rankings tied for seventh in the NCAA. Along with Hays, senior outfielder Parker Perez and senior infielder JJ Gould rank second and third on the team in nearly every offensive category.
 
In 2015, Jacksonville turned in a 26-30 overall record and went two-and-out in the A-Sun Conference Tournament, dropping a 16-inning affair against Stetson in game one before losing to regular season champion UNF in game two.

SERIES HISTORY
Since becoming a member of the A-Sun in 2008, FGCU holds a 16-9 advantage in the all-time series with Jacksonville, including a 8-5 record at home and 8-4 record on the road. The Green and Blue have won three of the last four in the in-state series and claimed last year's three-game set after winning each of the last two games. In 2014, the Eagles and Dolphins met in the A-Sun Conference Tournament, with FGCU emerging victorious, 3-0, and ending Jacksonville's season.

THE MATCHUP
In his 14th season of work at FGCU, Tollett has compiled a 482-282-3 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 Jacksonville head coach Tim Montez, who has compiled a 69-77 overall record in his third season with the Dolphins.
 
FAST START
FGCU is off to its best start in conference play since also winning five of its first six A-Sun contests during the 2014 season. The Eagles boast a .375 team average in conference games, which leads the league by more than 75 points, and have recorded double-digit hits in five of their six contests versus A-Sun opponents.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
FGCU shortstop Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) hit a leadoff triple in Tuesday matchup with No. 17 FAU and extended his program-record and NCAA-long hit streak to 28 games dating back to Feb. 20. Reardon missed seven games at the start of the season, but has hit in every game except the season opener at No. 1 Florida. He currently ranks fourth in the conference with a .398 average and, despite the missed time, ranks seventh in the league with 49 hits.

FLARE FOR THE DRAMATIC
The Green and Blue capped off a 4-0 week with three of its wins coming in walk-off fashion. Along with the aforementioned walk-off against FAU last Tuesday, FGCU won the last two games of its weekend set against NJIT in ninth-inning drama. Spivey did it again Saturday as he stepped to the plate with one out and the bases loaded and hit a single through the left side of the infield to again score Morey. Then, in Sunday's finale, pinch hitter Ryan Shinn (Jobstown, N.J./Northern Burlington HS) ended the game and secured FGCU's first series sweep of the season with a sacrifice fly to right field that scored Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS).

PRODUCTION AT THE TOP
FGCU's quartet of Reardon, Selesky, Noll and Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) have been big-time producers to this point in the season. They not only rank 1-4 in batting average, but have collectively gone 201-for-565 (.356) from the plate. Additionally, the group of Eagles has not only accounted for 55% of the teams hits, but has also totaled 112 runs scored (54%), 42 doubles (62%), 10 home runs (71%) and 111 RBI (58%) through 37 games.

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. 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)	290-198-1	158-72 (.687)
2.	UNF (2008-present)	273-216	122-106 (.535)
3.	Kennesaw State (2008-present)	260-236	134-92 (.593)
4.	Stetson (2008-present)	256-252	124-104 (.544)
5.	Mercer (2008-14)	243-156	115-82 (.584)
6.	Lipscomb (2008-present)	241-260	115-112 (.507)
7.	Jacksonville (2008-present)	232-257	109-117 (.482)
8.	ETSU (2008-14)	197-201	88-110 (.444)
9.	USC Upstate (2008-present)	191-282	78-148 (.345)
10.	Belmont (2008-12)	158-139	78-68 (.534)
11.	Campbell (2008-11)	93-125	31-85 (.267)
12.	NKU (2013-15)	39-118	14-61 (.187)
13.	Gardner-Webb (2008)	29-30	15-18 (.455)
14.	NJIT (2016)	13-21	2-6 (.250)

 
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 fourth. 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 fourth-highest active career batting average in the NCAA while ranking seventh 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.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	.368
7.	Jason Kouwsma (2005-06)	.367
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.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	241
	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	241
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)	113

 
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.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	128
9.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	126
10.	Jason Cooper (2003-05)	121

 
FGCU CAREER STOLEN BASES

1.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	61
2.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	47
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, innings pitched and wins.
 
FGCU CAREER APPEARANCES

1.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	86
2.	RJ Brown (2010-13)	82
3.	Brady Anderson (2012-present)	70
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)	254.1
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

 
FGCU CAREER WINS

1.	Pete Woodworth (2007-10)	25
	Jason Kiley (2004-07)	25
3.	Michael Murray (2013-15)	23
	Ricky Knapp (2011-13)	23
5.	Chris Sale (2008-10)	20
6.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	19
7.	Richard Bleier (2006-08)	17
8.	Brady Anderson (2012-present)	16
	Casey Coleman (2006-08)	16
10.	Richie Erath (2008-11, 13)	15

 
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
FGCU returns to Swanson Stadium to host conference rival UNF in a three-game series next weekend. 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. The Eagles hold a 19-9 advantage in the all-time series versus the Ospreys as the two teams enter the weekend ranked second and fourth in the conference standings, respectively.
 
DAVE TOLLETT
In 13+ seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 482-282-3 record (.630) 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.