CORAL GABLES, Fla. – Coming off an important A-Sun series win at Lipscomb last weekend, the FGCU baseball team (24-26, 9-9 A-Sun) travels to Coral Gables, Fla., for the second time this season to cap off its three-game season series versus No. 2 Miami (40-9, 19-6 ACC) Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Mark Light Field.
 
FGCU's starter for the midweek matchup is still up in the air, while Miami will send sophomore right hander Jesse Lepore (7-0, 2.15) to the mound to make his third start against the Eagles this season. He earned wins in the two previous matchups between the in-state foes.

The game will mark FGCU's 10th contest versus a ranked team in 2016 and its seventh against a team that appears in the top-five of a major college baseball poll.

"It's another tough game that will tell us a lot about our team late in the season," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "Like I've said before, there's a reason we schedule these games, and we're going to see where we stand not only tomorrow night, but also heading into this last weekend of the season."

SERIES HISTORY
FGCU is 2-15 in the all-time series against the Hurricanes, including a 0-6 mark at home and 2-9 clip on the road. In two previous matchups against Miami this season, the Eagles dropped a 6-2 decision in Coral Gables on March 2 before hosting the Hurricanes at Hammond Stadium on April 5 and falling 4-0. Last season, FGCU claimed an 8-1 win against then-No. 13 Miami on March 25. The Eagles' other win in the in-state rivalry series also occurred in Coral Gables when FGCU defeated then-No. 6 Miami, 4-2, on April 11, 2012.

THE MATCHUP
In his 14th season of work at FGCU, Tollett has compiled a 487-290-3 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. Tuesday, Tollett matches up with Miami's Jim Morris, who is in his 23rd season of work and has produced a 1,021-414-3 all-time record in Coral Gables, Fla.

Both head coaches entered the 2016 season ranked inside the top 25 of winningest active NCAA coaches by percentage. Tollett entered the season with a .636 success rate while Morris, in 34 years as a head coach, has won .696 percent of the time.

SCOUTING THE HURRICANES
Miami is 40-9 overall this season with a 19-6 mark in conference play as they wrapped up their third straight ACC Coastal Division Championship with a sweep against Pittsburgh last weekend. Since playing the Eagles at the start of April, the Hurricanes have won 17 of 22 games, including series wins against Duke, Florida A&M, Georgia Tech and Pitt.
 
Offensively, a quartet of Hurricanes in Brandon Lopez (.405), Zach Collins (.387), Johnny Ruiz (.353) and Carl Chester (.347) lead the way in batting average with marks of .347 or higher. Collins, a 2015 All-American, leads the Hurricanes with 10 home runs to go along with 46 RBI on the year. Chester's 67 hits are best of the team, while Willie Abreu has recorded a team-leading 47 RBI.
 
On the mound, Bryan Garcia and Frankie Bartow are Miami's two most-used arms out of the bullpen with ERAs of 2.20 and 2.63, respectively. Garcia has recorded 12 of the team's 13 saves while striking out 45 batters in 28.2 innings pitched.
 
LAST TIME OUT
FGCU claimed its spot in the A-Sun Tournament and clinched its first series win in Nashville since 2010 by taking two of three games against the home-standing Bisons last weekend. The Eagles responded from a dramatic loss in game won as Lipscomb claimed a 5-4 win on a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning, to win each of the last two games against the Bisons. FGCU punched its ticket to the 2016 A-Sun Tournament with a 19-4 win Saturday at Dugan Field, before improving its position for postseason seeding with a 7-4 win the finale.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR
In their last seven games, the Eagles have registered 77 runs on 96 hits, including a season-high 19-run effort in game two against Lipscomb and a 21-hit performance in the series finale at USC Upstate. Individually, Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) and Jake Smith (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Prep) have each turned in .447 batting averages with 21 hits and 15 or more runs scored during the span, while Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) has hit a team-leading six home runs and 22 RBI.
 
BASH BROTHERS
After entering the season with four combined home runs in their careers, Noll and Selesky have accounted for 21 home runs this season and are the first FGCU duo to hit 10 or more home runs in the same season since Tim Roberson (13) and Zach Maxfield (11) did so in 2010. They are one of two teammates in the A-Sun to each have double-digit home runs.
 
LEAGUE LEADER
Noll currently ranks first or second in the A-Sun in eight offensive categories as he leads the league in runs scored (55), hits (83), RBI (58) and total bases (139) and ranks second in average (.388), slugging (.650), doubles (19) and home runs (11). He is the only player in the league to rank in the top-five in all of the aforementioned offensive categories. Additionally, Noll ranks eighth in the NCAA in hits, 20th in RBI, 24th in runs scored, 29th in doubles and 36th in average and is the only player in Division I to rank inside the top-40 in all five offensive categories.

PRODUCTION AT THE TOP
The FGCU quartet of Noll, Smith, Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) and Selesky have been big-time producers this season as they not only rank one through four, respectively, in batting average, but also hit one through four in the FGCU lineup. The quartet has collectively gone 250-for-692 (.361) from the plate and accounted for 49% of the teams hits. Additionally, they have also totaled 155 runs scored (50%), 53 doubles (51%), 22 home runs (81%) and 146 RBI (51%).
 
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)	295-206-1	162-80 (.669)
2.	UNF (2008-present)	281-219	129-108 (.544)
3.	Kennesaw State (2008-present)	268-241	140-95 (.596)
4.	Stetson (2008-present)	264-257	132-108 (.550)
5.	Lipscomb (2008-present)	248-267	121-118 (.506)
6.	Mercer (2008-14)	243-156	115-82 (.584)
7.	Jacksonville (2008-present)	242-261	118-120 (.496)
8.	ETSU (2008-14)	197-201	88-110 (.444)
9.	USC Upstate (2008-present)	193-290	80-155 (.340)
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)	17-32	2-15 (.118)

 
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 seventh. 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 ranks fifth in hits among active NCAA players while also ranking 12th in career batting average. In the midst of an impressive senior campaign, Selesky has also cracked the top-10 in RBI and runs scored.

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)	.367
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.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	263
4.	Stephen Wickens (2008-11)	259
5.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	247
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.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	128
9.	Tyler Selesky (2013-present)	118
10.	Ozzie Borrell (2007-08)	117

 
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.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	148
7.	Chris Perry (2003-06)	134
8.	Tyler Selesky (2013-present)	133
9.	Jake Smith (2005-08)	129
10.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	126

 
FGCU CAREER STOLEN BASES

1.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	61
2.	Jake Noll (2014-present)	48
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)	74
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.	Brady Anderson (2012-present)	283.2
4.	Ricky Knapp (2011-13)	283.1
5.	Pete Woodworth (2007-10)	272.2
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 eight teams that participated in the 2015 NCAA Base­ball Tournament including a pair of College World Series participants, two additional Super Regional participants and three conference champions. The eight NCAA Tournament teams include CWS semifinalist, defending SEC Tournament Champion and preseason No. 1 Florida, CWS participant and preseason No. 4 Miami, Super Regional participants FSU and 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 20 games, including the first eight games of the season, will be played against those eight 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 Eagles host Kennesaw State (26-25, 14-4 A-Sun) in the regular season finale this weekend at Swanson Stadium. Game one is scheduled to begin Thursday at 6:30 p.m. followed by game two Friday at 6:30 p.m. and the series finale Saturday at noon.
 
DAVE TOLLETT
In 14 seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 487-290-3 record (.626) 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.