FORT MYERS, Fla. – Eyeing a three-game sweep for the second time this season, the #21 FGCU baseball team (18-3) was able to get just that as the Eagles jumped out to an early lead and ultimately defeated Rutgers (6-13), 8-3, Sunday afternoon at Swanson Stadium.

The weekend sweep was FGCU's second of the season and first at Swanson Stadium. The Eagles also went into Wilmington, N.C., and became the first non-conference opponent to sweep UNC Wilmington at home since 1998. Additionally, the Green and Blue stays on pace with the 2005 team (23-3) to match the program's best start in school history.

Reigning ASUN Pitcher of the Week Peyton Gray (2-0, 4.21) continued to throw well as he turned in the quality start en route to earning his second win of the season. Gray (Columbus, Ind./Gulf Coast State/Columbus East HS) pitched a season-high 6.1 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits. He also matched a season high with six strikeouts while issuing no walks. Dating back to the Florida game on Mar. 8, Gray hadn't allowed a run in his last 18.2 innings pitched before Rutgers got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh.

Offensively, Alex Brait (Viera, Fla./Viera HS) went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and hit his first collegiate home run. It was Brait's second game in his last three with two or more hits. After Gonzalez's first cycle in program history less than 24 hours ago, Brait came up a triple shy of matching his teammate with the rare feat. Additionally, Spencer Levine (Miami, Fla./Seminole State College/Miami Killian Senior HS) matched Brait's three hits and score a run while driving in two. Levine capped off the weekend with multiple hits and multiple RBI in all three contests.

"Peyton gave us a quality start. He was great out there today," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "We were down a guy in our rotation, and Peyton stepped up for us in a big way. We're playing very well, but I still think we can be better. Sweeps are huge. It says a lot about your club. Sweeps don't come easy. This is Division I baseball, so we respect the sweep and are very grateful we got it this weekend."

After Gray retired the first six batters he faced, FGCU got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the second as Levine drove in his fifth run of the weekend on a single to left field that scored Eli Lovell (Lincoln, Neb./Kansas City Kansas CC/Lincoln Southwest HS) from third. Three pitches later, Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) narrowly missed on his second home run of the season as he hit a fly ball to right field that was caught on the track and scored Brait.

Two innings later, it was déjà vu for the Green and Blue as Levine singled through the left side of the infield and Corey Fehribach (Douglasville, Ga./West Georgia CC/Alexander HS) slide headfirst under the tag issued by Rutgers catcher Chris Folinusz. Morey followed with another sacrifice fly – this time to left field – to score Brait and make it a 4-0 ballgame.

FGCU followed with two more runs its next at-bat. With runners on the corners and one out, Fehribach hit a double over the head of Rutgers right fielder Tom Marcinczyk to score Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) and Lovell followed with a RBI groundout to score Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS).  

Rutgers, who had recorded only two hits off Gray in the first six innings, finally got to the FGCU starter with three runs (two earned) in the top of the seventh. The first run scored on what could have been an inning-ending double play, and two more runs ultimately scored on RBI singles from Folinusz and pinch hitter Kyle Walker to cut the lead to 6-3.

However, FGCU responded with two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Brait led off the inning with a solo shot over the right-field fence – his first collegiate home run – while Richie Garcia (Davie, Fla./West Broward HS) capped off the scoring in today's game with a well-hit sacrifice fly to left-center field.

Along with Brait and Levine's aforementioned days at the plate, Rivera and Morey also turned in two hits apiece. Rivera added a run, while Morey drove in two for the fourth time this season.

UP NEXT
FGCU's tough midweek slate continues with what will likely be another top-25 matchup against USF (19-1). The Bulls completed a four-game sweep of Harvard with a 14-2 win Sunday afternoon and have won 18 straight games.

TICKETS
Single game and season ticket packages for the 2017 FGCU baseball season are now on sale. Season tickets for games contested at Swanson Stadium can be purchased for $99, while single game tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for youth (12 and under), military and groups. For questions or more information, please contact the FGCU Ticket Office at 239-590-7145.

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.

DAVE TOLLETT
In his 15th season of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 508-299-3 record (.627) as the only head coach in the program's history. He is a four-time ASUN Coach of the Year and has guided the Green and Blue to four ASUN Regular Season Championships. His team has been ranked nationally on several occasions by multiple media outlets and has coached 42 All-Conference selections, 27 draft picks, three current major leaguers, 19 current minor leaguers, four ASUN Pitchers of the Year, four All-Americans, two ASUN Players of the Year, one National Freshman Player of the Year, one National Player of the Year and one five-time MLB All-Star.

#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.