FORT MYERS, Fla. – Behind six strong innings from Mario Leon and a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth from Spencer Levine, the #12 FGCU baseball team (19-3) snapped the nation's second-longest win streak by defeating #21 USF (20-2), 2-1, Wednesday evening at Swanson Stadium.

The visiting Bulls entered the in-state showdown winners of 19 straight games, but it was FGCU who came out on top in the team's fourth straight midweek game against a top-25 opponent. The win marks the Green and Blue's fifth straight and its 15th in the last 16 contests as the Eagles stay on pace with the 2005 team that holds the program's best ever start at 23-3. FGCU's only loss since Feb. 24 came at the hands of defending Big Ten Champion Ohio State.

After USF tied the game, 1-1, with a two-out RBI single from Joe Genord in the top of the sixth inning, Levine (Miami, Fla./Miami Killian Senior HS) stepped to the plate in the home half with two outs and the bases empty. He battled back from a 0-2 hole to even the count at 2-2 before getting the fastball he was looking for and launching it over a trio of palm trees beyond the left-field fence to once again give the Eagles the lead with what proved to be the game winner.

From there, the FGCU bullpen backed up Leon's (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) impressive night that included one earned run and a career-high eight strikeouts with three scoreless innings to close out the team's fourth win against a ranked opponent this season. Senior reliever Sterling Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS) left no doubt in the ninth as he struck out the side in 11 pitches to earn his ASUN-best seventh save of the season and 14th of his FGCU career – tying former Eagle J.J. Crumbly for the program's all-time record. As a staff, FGCU matched a season high with 13 strikeouts and didn't issue a walk.

"USF is a very good baseball team, and it was two great baseball teams going at it tonight," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "We got a great effort from Mario and a big hit from Spencer Levine. It was a great, quality baseball game. If we can pitch, not give away any freebies and play defense, we're going to win a lot of baseball games. Our guys continue to play with confidence, and they believe they're the best team in the state of Florida right now."

FGCU improved to 12-0 when scoring first as leadoff man Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) came through with a two-out single in the bottom of the second to score Eli Lovell (Lincoln, Neb./Kansas City Kansas CC/Lincoln Southwest HS), who started the inning with a walk, from third.

From there, FGCU's pitching and defense led the way until the Bulls tied the game in the aforementioned top of the sixth. After FGCU was able to escape trouble in the top of the second, Leon (2-1, 3.33) and the Eagles appeared ready to do so again in the top of the sixth. Back-to-back singles from Kevin Merrell and Coco Montes started the inning, but Leon was able to record a pair of big outs as a line drive off the bat of Luke Borders found its way into Nick Rivera's (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) glove at first base and allowed the redshirt senior to step on the bag and double off Montes. However, Genord came through with the two-out single back up the middle to knot the score, 1-1.

Levine then followed a pair of quick outs to start the home half with his no-doubt home run to left field. It was not only Levine's second home run and ASUN-best 25th RBI of the season, but also proved to be the difference in the game.

Redshirt junior Kenton Hering (Melbourne, Fla./Eastern Florida State/Viera HS) entered the game in relief of Leon to start the seventh and got himself into trouble after surrendering a leadoff walk followed by a single to left field on a fly ball that was misplayed by Lovell. However, after both runners moved up 90 feet on a sacrifice bunt from Tyler Dietrich, Hering was able to get out of the inning with no harm done thanks to some nice glove work from Rivera at first and Corey Fehribach (Douglasville, Ga./West Georgia CC/Alexander HS) in right field.

An inning later, USF again threatened to even the score for the second time in the game as the Bulls started a two-out rally. Similarly to the inning prior, though, Hering buckled down and caught David Villar looking to end the inning with the tying run on second base. With two more scoreless innings today, Hering hasn't allowed a run in his last five appearances and 7.2 innings pithced.

FGCU stranded a leadoff single from Alex Brait (Viera, Fla./Viera HS) to start the bottom of the eighth, but Koerner had it from there as he worked an ultra-efficient ninth inning by tossing 11 pitches and getting six swing and misses while striking out the side.

Offensively, Brait stayed red-hot from the plate as the freshman designated hitter went 2-for-4 and turned in his fourth multi-hit performance in last six games. Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) also turned in two hits, but it was Levine who ultimately provided the game winner.

UP NEXT
FGCU continues its home schedule with a three-game series against Jackson State this weekend, marking the first time in program history the two teams have played. Game one in the three-game set is scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by game two Saturday at 2 p.m. and game three Sunday at 1 p.m.

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 509-299-3 record (.628) 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.