SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The FGCU baseball team (20-25, 6-8 Atlantic Sun Conference) fell 21-18 to USC Upstate (20-24, 3-10 A-Sun) despite erasing a 12-0 deficit in a game that saw 39 runs and 44 hits Saturday afternoon in the middle game of a three-game series.
 
Trailing 12-0 entering the fifth inning, the Eagles scored their first run of the afternoon in the top of the frame, and scored 17 runs over the final four innings to close the margin.  FGCU fought back to tie the game at 13-13 entering the bottom of the eighth inning, but Upstate scored eight runs in the bottom of the eighth to the put the game out of reach.
 
The Eagles were able to score five runs in the ninth inning, but ultimately fell short and will look to salvage a game from the series on Sunday at Noon.
 
"The bats came alive tonight, but we weren't able to get the job done on the mound," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "Last night it was basically the exact opposite, so hopefully we can put everything together tomorrow in the series finale to save a game."

FGCU starter Garrett Anderson (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto County HS) took the loss (1-2) after allowing 11 runs with one walk and two strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Upstate starter Zach Mitchell pitched 5.1 innings, allowing seven hits with one walk and three strikeouts.
 
Jake Noll (Punta Gorda, Fla./Charlotte HS) – who delivered four hits for the Eagles – started things off for the Eagles by hitting a double to left field in his first at bat. He was stranded, and Upstate recorded two-straight triples in the bottom of the inning to take a 1-0 lead against the Eagles.
 
In the second inning, Upstate recorded four hits and scored three runs, although Anderson struck one out and left another on base. In the third inning, the Spartans added five hits and scored four more runs when Upstate's Jordan Miller hit a double to left center. JJ Shimko then recorded the Spartans' third triple of the day, hitting one to center field and increasing Upstate's lead, 8-0.
 
With the bases loaded in the fourth inning and just one out for the Spartans, FGCU's Ryan Lang (Merritt Island, Fla./Merritt Island HS) entered the game for Anderson. The Spartans added four more runs off of four hits, totaling 15 hits in just four innings.
 
The Eagles were scoreless through the first four innings and trailed 12-0 until Stefano Belmonte (Chicago, Ill./South Suburban College) hit a double into center field. Back-to-back hits from Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) and Zach Spivey (Ormond Beach, Fla./Spruce Creek HS) sent Belmonte home to score one and put the Eagles on the board, trailing 12-1.
 
The Spartans recorded two more doubles in the bottom of the fifth inning, scoring one more run and leading 13-1.
 
FGCU fired back by recording six hits in the sixth inning. Reardon, Smith and Noll recorded singles for the Eagles to load the bases. Tyler Selesky (Estero, Fla./Estero HS) answered by hitting another single to right field, scoring Smith. Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lyman HS) was walked and the bases were loaded again, putting pressure on the Spartans. After Upstate's Colton Chupp replaced Zach Mitchell – who allowed seven hits and five runs – Belmonte walked, scoring Noll. It was Zach Spivey who scored Hayes, followed by an RBI double to right field from Orchard. The Eagles' six runs in the sixth inning cut the Spartans lead to 13-7.
 
In the top of the seventh inning, Jake Smith (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Prep) hit a double down the left-field line, followed a single from Noll that brought Smith home. Selesky then hit a two-run home run to right field, his sixth round-tripper of the season. After another single from Hayes, the Spartans replaced pitcher Zach Krider with Kevin Hickey. One more scored for the Eagles after Orchard hit a single to center to bring Hayes home. The Eagles' efforts cut the deficit and FGCU trailed 13-11 in the seventh inning.
 
Smith hit a home run down the right-field line in the top of the eighth, recording his first career home run. Noll doubled to left field, and Belmonte hit a sacrifice fly out to center field to score Noll.
 
After once trailing the Spartans 13-0, the Eagles came back and tied the game 13-13 in the top of the eighth.
 
The Eagles' 13-run rally wasn't enough, however, as the Spartans fought back and tallied eight runs in the bottom of the eighth. James Fowlkes hit a two-run homer for the Spartans who also recorded three doubles in the eighth inning.
 
In the top of the ninth inning, Spivey reached on a fielding error and Orchard hit a single to left field. Reardon hit a two-RBI double to right center, scoring both Spivey and Orchard. Noll then followed by hitting a three-run home run to left center, scoring Smith and Reardon. However, FGCU's five runs in the ninth inning were not enough to complete the comeback.
 
The Green and Blue will face USC Upstate again on Sunday at Noon to finish the series, and the game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN App.
 
DAVE TOLLETT
In 13+ seasons of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 483-287-3 record (.627) 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.