FORT MYERS, Fla. – A two-run bottom of the eighth inning broke a 2-2 tie and proved to be the difference as the FGCU baseball team (15-16, 2-0 A-Sun) claimed its first conference series of the season with a 4-2 come-from-behind win against Stetson (16-15, 0-2 A-Sun) Saturday afternoon at Swanson Stadium.

Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) provided the go-ahead run for the Green and Blue as he ripped the first pitch delivered from Stetson reliever Walker Sheller right back up the middle to score Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) and give FGCU a 3-2 lead. Three batters later, Matt Roberts (Bradenton, Fla./Lakewood Ranch HS) stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a dribbler down the third base line that scored Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) on the play and extended the Eagles' lead to 4-2.

FGCU starter Garrett Anderson (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto County HS) turned in a quality start on the mound as he pitched a career-high 6.2 innings and struck out a career-high eight batters, also marking a season high for FGCU starters. Sterling Koerner (2-3, 4.50) made his second relief appearance in as many days and earned the win as he was near perfect – allowing one hit with two strikeouts – in 2.1 innings pitched.

Opposite the Green and Blue duo, Stetson reliever Josh Thorne (2-1, 1.74) suffered the loss after leaving the game in the top of the eighth with a pair of runners on base, both of which came in to score. He replaced starter Brooks Wilson, who pitched 6.1 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on eight hits with one walk and three strikeouts.

"It was a grind it out win today, and that can tell you a lot about your team," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "We got off to a slow start offensively but received some timely hitting when it mattered most. I thought Garrett pitched his best game of the season, and Sterling was lights out in relief."

Stetson jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a run in each of the first two innings as designated hitter Cory Reid hit a solo home run to left field in the opening frame and Austin Hale brought in John Fussell, who doubled to start the top of the second, on a RBI groundout to shortstop.

Anderson then sat down eight straight Hatters from the fourth through the sixth innings while the FGCU offense was able to scratch a pair of runs across in the fifth and sixth and tie the game, 2-2. Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) did the damage in the home half of the fifth with a RBI single through the right side of the infield to score Zach Spivey (Ormond Beach, Fla./Spruce Creek HS), who recorded his second straight multi-hit game. Then, after reaching on an error to start the bottom of the sixth, Selesky advanced to second on a balk and later scored on one of five double-play balls in the game.

Anderson and Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS) continued to hold the Hatters in check as the FGCU offense came up big in the bottom of the eighth to secure the win. The Green and Blue staff not only combined to record 10 strikeouts, but also didn't issue a free pass for only the third time this season. Additionally, they held Stetson to only three hits after the third inning.

GAME NOTES
- With a single in the bottom of the third, Reardon extended his career-high hit streak to 23 games, moving past Mikel Alvarez for the second longest streak in program history and trailing Josh Chester's 24-game streak in 2009.
- Additionally, after reaching on an error in the bottom of the sixth, Selesky pushed his career-high on-base streak to 24 games and now trails Noll's season-long 25-game streak by one.
- With a go-ahead RBI single in the bottom of the eighth, Noll tallied a new career high with 42 on the season. He is now 8-for-9 with two runs scored and two RBI in the series.

NEXT UP
The series finale between the Eagles and Hatters is scheduled for tomorrow at 1 p.m., when FGCU will be in search of its first series sweep of the season. A pair of freshman will toe the rubber as Ryan Lang (2-3, 7.04) makes his second weekend start of the season and opposes Logan Gilbert (2-0, 1.91).

DAVE TOLLETT
In 13+ seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 478-280-3 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.