FORT MYERS, Fla. – After completing final exams this week, the FGCU baseball team (19-21, 5-4 A-Sun) hosts conference rival UNF (26-14, 5-4 A-Sun) for a three-game series at Swanson Stadium this weekend. Game one is scheduled to begin Friday at 6:30 p.m. followed by game two Saturday at 2 p.m. The series finale, which was originally scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m., has been pushed up an hour and will now start at noon to avoid conflicts with graduation ceremonies at Alico Arena.
 
The Eagles will stick with its weekend rotation of late as right hander Brady Anderson (5-4, 3.25) will take the mound Friday night opposite Bryan Baker (3-2, 2.21). In game two, younger brother Garrett Anderson (1-1, 3.83) will look for his fourth straight quality start and face Brad Deppermann (0-0, 9.39), while Mario Leon (3-3, 4.02) will toe the rubber in the series finale against Austin Drury (3-1, 4.87).
 
"We know we have a big weekend ahead of us, and we understand what we need to get done," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "Our series against UNF is a big one every year, and this year is no different. Our guys have taken care of their work in the classroom and are looking forward to getting back out there on the diamond."

Friday's series opener has been deemed a Green Out as all fans are encourage to wear shades of green in support of the homestanding Eagles.
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU holds a 19-9 advantage in the all-time series versus UNF as the two teams are currently tied for third in the conference standings. The Eagles are 10-4 in home games against the Ospreys and the two teams split four games played against each other in 2015. FGCU won a three-game set against UNF in Jacksonville before the teams met again in the conference tournament hosted by FGCU at Swanson Stadium. The Ospreys jumped out to an early lead and never looked back as they ultimately won, 8-2, in a game that went into a rain delay of more than five hours and later ended the Eagles season.

THE MATCHUP
In his 14th season of work at FGCU, Tollett has compiled a 482-285-3 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 UNF head coach Smoke Laval, who has guided the Ospreys to a 191-131 record in his sixth seasons with the program. After claiming the regular season championship a season ago, Laval was named the A-Sun Coach of the Year.
 
SCOUTING THE OSPREYS
UNF enters the weekend with a 26-14 overall record and 5-4 mark in conference play and is currently riding a six-game win streak. Before having an off weekend last week, the Ospreys claimed a midweek win against USF on April 12 and went on to sweep Stetson the ensuing weekend and defeat both UCF and Savannah State the following week.
 
Offensively, the Ospreys are led by senior catcher Keith Skinner, who ranks second in the conference with a .406 average. Along with his league-leading average, Skinner also ranks inside the top five in the league in runs scored (35), hits (58) and doubles (13). Additionally, Senior two-way player Corbin Olmstead and junior infielder Alex Merritt have each posted a .329 average, and Olmstead ranks second in the league with nine home runs and third with 41 RBI.
 
On the mound, Friday night starter Bryan Baker leads all qualifying pitchers in both ERA (2.21) and opposing batting average (.205), while Olmstead has recorded a team-leading five saves this season.
 
In 2015, UNF posted a 45-16 overall record and went 16-5 in the league en route to winning the A-Sun Regular Season Conference Championship. As the No. 1 seed at Swanson Stadium, the Ospreys advanced to the tournament final where they were defeated by Lipscomb, 8-7, and missed out on a NCAA Tournament at-large bid.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
FGCU center fielder Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) is currently riding a career-high 10-game hit streak and has recorded multiple hits in six of the last eight contests. Over the 10-game span, Morey is leading the team with a .421 average. Additionally, shortstop Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) recently snapped a program-record 29-game hit streak vs. Jacksonville. Reardon's hit streak was not only five games longer than any other in FGCU history, but was also the longest in the NCAA this season.

TWO-WAY TEAM
FGCU enters the weekend ranked first in the A-Sun in team batting average (.315) and second in the league in ERA (3.47) during conference games. The Green and Blue has recorded double-digit hits in six of nine conference games and scored 10 or more runs on a pair of occasions. Additionally, FGCU starting pitchers have turned in quality starts in six of nine games against A-Sun opponents.

PRODUCTION AT THE TOP
Reardon, Morey, Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS), Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) and Colton Bottomley (Parkland, Fla./Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS) have been big-time producers to this point in the season. They not only rank in the top-six on the team in batting average, but have collectively gone 247-for-748 (.330) from the plate. Additionally, the group of Eagles has not only accounted for 64% of the teams hits, but has also totaled 138 runs scored (64%), 45 doubles (63%), 11 home runs (73%) and 121 RBI (61%) through 40 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)	290-201-1	158-75 (.678)
2.	UNF (2008-present)	273-216	122-106 (.535)
3.	Kennesaw State (2008-present)	262-239	136-93 (.594)
4.	Stetson (2008-present)	259-252	127-104 (.550)
5.	Mercer (2008-14)	243-156	115-82 (.584)
6.	Lipscomb (2008-present)	242-263	116-114 (.504)
7.	Jacksonville (2008-present)	235-257	112-117 (.489)
8.	ETSU (2008-14)	197-201	88-110 (.444)
9.	USC Upstate (2008-present)	191-285	78-151 (.341)
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)	18-23	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 sixth. 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 also 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.	Jason Kouwsma (2005-06)	.367
7.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	.362
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)	242
6.	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.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	114
	Sean Dwyer (20011-13)	114

 
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.	Tyler Selesky (2013-present)	122

 
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. With his start tomorrow night, Anderson will also tie FGCU's first player to reach the MLB, Casey Coleman, in career starts with 31.
 
FGCU CAREER APPEARANCES

1.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	86
2.	RJ Brown (2010-13)	82
3.	Brady Anderson (2012-present)	71
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)	262.1
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 hits the road for a three-game set at USC Upstate next weekend. Game one in Spartanburg, S.C., is scheduled for 6 p.m. and will be followed by game two Saturday at 2 p.m. and the series finale Sunday at noon. All three games will be aired on ESPN3. The Eagles currently hold a 16-8 advantage in the all-time series with the Spartans. 
 
DAVE TOLLETT
In 13+ seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 482-285-3 record (.628) 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.