FORT MYERS, Fla. – Winners of five in a row and 15 of its last 16, the #12 FGCU baseball team (19-3) is faced with another quick turnaround as the Eagles welcome Jackson State (18-8, 6-3 SWAC) to Swanson Stadium for a three-game series this weekend. The series opener in the first-ever meeting between the two teams in scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m. It will be followed by game two Saturday at 2 p.m. and the finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
FGCU will send right hander Garrett Anderson (2-0, 3.65) to the mound to make his fourth straight Friday night start. Saturday, the Eagles will go with the combination of Peyton Gray (2-0, 4.21) and Kutter Crawford (4-0, 1.04), while Josh Dye (4-1, 3.16) will return to his typical Sunday role. Jackson State's probable rotation includes a trio of senior right handers. Jonathan Aponte (3-1, 3.78) will likely toe the rubber in the opener, while Jordan Bolden (4-2, 4.29) and Miguel Yrigoyen (3-1, 2.08) will take the mound in games two and three.
 
Prior to Saturday's game, FGCU will honor the life of former player Alex Diaz, who lost his life in an automobile accident last August. Those interested in being in attendance for the ceremony should plan on getting to the ballpark at least 20 minutes prior to first pitch.

COACHING MATCHUP
FGCU founding head coach Dave Tollett has posted a 509-299-3 all-time record in his 15th season as the Eagles' skipper. Tollett, who secured his 500th win by defeating UNC Wilmington, 10-1, on Mar. 5, has guided the Eagles to four ASUN Regular Season Championships and has earned an equal amount of ASUN Coach of the Year awards. This weekend, he matches up with Jackson State head coach Omar Johnson, who is in his 11th season with the program and has posted a 335-224 record with the Tigers. Johnson took his teams to back-to-back NCAA Regionals in 2013 and 2014.
 
SCOUTING THE TIGERS
Jackson State enters this weekend's tilt with an 18-8 overall record and 6-3 mark in conference play. Like FGCU, the Tigers have won five straight games with two wins against Southwestern Athletic Conference opponent Alcorn State and Le Moyne Owen as well as its most recent 8-4 victory against Tougaloo Wednesday night.
 
The Tigers are led by their potent offense that ranks fourth in the country with a .333 team average. Jackson State's 8.3 runs per game also ranks 15th in the country. Individually, the Tigers are led by junior utility man Lamar Briggs, who is hitting .400 in 25 games played this season. Teammate Calvin Newsome is right on his heels with a .397 clip in 18 games played, while Jesus Santana provides the team's biggest power bat with three home runs and 29 RBI.
 
On the mound, Jackson State closer Jose Tirado has been impressive in eight appearances as he has recorded three saves and posted a 1-0 record with a 1.15 ERA. In 15.2 innings pitched, Tirado has struck out 18 batters and issued only four walks. Additionally, senior right hander Francsico Cervantes has been effective out of the bullpen with a 1.17 ERA in five appearances. He's allowed one run and struck out 10 in 7.2 innings.

BEST OF BOTH WORLDS
FGCU is one of eight teams in the NCAA to rank in the top-40 in both runs per game (7.4) and ERA (3.18) this season. Both numbers are considerably better than a year ago when the Green and Blue scored 5.9 runs per game with a staff ERA of 5.33. Joining the Eagles on the list of eight teams in Louisville, Oklahoma, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, St. John's and LSU.
 
IN THE RANKINGS
Continuing its best start in Division I program history, FGCU was the biggest mover of the week as the Eagles jumped nine spots to #12 in Baseball America's poll released Monday, marking the second-highest ranking by any FGCU program. Additionally, the Green and Blue cracked the top-15 in a pair of other publications including D1 Baseball and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper, who each moved FGCU up seven places to #15. The Eagles were also ranked #16 by the NCBWA – up eight spots from a week ago – and were tabbed #17 in the country by Perfect Game and the USA TODAY Coaches Poll.

The Eagles are the second-highest ranked non-Power Five program behind perennial powerhouse Cal State Fullerton according to Baseball American and D1 Baseball and the third-highest according to the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, the NCBWA, Perfect Game and Collegiate Baseball Newspaper.

SINGLE-GAME HISTORY
In the midst of earning its second three-game sweep of the season against Rutgers last weekend, junior shortstop Julio Gonzalez and senior designated hitter Nick Rivera put together record-breaking days at the plate in last Saturday's 13-4 win against the Scarlet Knights.
 
Gonzalez (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Seminole State College (OK)/Brito Miami Private HS) became the first player in program history to hit for the cycle, while Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) set the Division I program record and matched the all-time mark with nine RBI in the game. Rivera also matched the Division I and all-time record with 12 total bases versus Rutgers. The duo combined to go 8-for-10 with five runs scored and 10 RBI in the game. Gonzalez hit a home run and triple in his final two at-bats, while Rivera hit a pair of home runs in a game for the fourth time in his career and first since 2015. He also matched a career high with four hits. The redshirt senior slugger entered the week hitting .215 but raised his average 60 points thanks in large part to Saturday's performance.
 
DOWN GOES #1
FGCU claimed the program's first ever win against a top-ranked opponent as the Eagles defeated #1 FSU, 5-2, at JetBlue Park last Wednesday night. The win marked FGCU's third straight against the Seminoles dating back to the 2015 season. The Green and Blue shutout then #7 FSU, 5-0, in Tallahassee two years ago before returning last season and taking down then #4 FSU, 11-8, in an extra-inning thriller.
 
500-WIN CLUB…AND COUNTING
Tollett became the ASUN's newest member of the 500-win club as FGCU capped off its weekend sweep at UNC Wilmington with a 10-1 win on Mar. 5. After starting the week with its fourth win against a ranked opponent this season by taking down #21 USF, 2-1, Wednesday night, Tollett has now pushed his win total to 509. He has recorded 30 or more wins in 11 of his 14 seasons, including a program record 41 wins in 2006 and has led the Eagles to a winning mark in conference play in eight of nine seasons in the ASUN. Tollett joins Kennesaw State's Mike Sansing and UNF's Smoke Laval as the only active head coaches in the league with 500 or more wins. Lipscomb coach Jeff Forehand is right on Tollett's heels as he entered the season with a 487 careers wins and has the Bisons off to a 12-8 start in 2017.
 
TORRID STRETCH
With last Wednesday's 5-2 win against #1 FSU, FGCU capped off a 13-game stretch against 2016 NCAA Tournament teams with an 11-2 record. Additionally, with the win against the Seminoles, the Eagles finished off a 10-game stretch against #1 or #2 seeds from last year's tournament at 9-1. Since its midweek matchup against then #2 Florida Mar. 7 and 8, the Green and Blue have won three games against two-top opponents. Prior to this season, FGCU had won one such game in the program's 15-year history. The Eagles have won five straight games and 15 of their last 16, including four against ranked opponents. The team's only loss since Feb. 24 came at the hands of defending Big Ten Champion Ohio State.
 
NCAA ACTIVE LEADER
In his final season with the Green and Blue, Rivera continues to not only climb FGCU's all-time records, but also ranks among the top-five in active NCAA players in a number of offensive categories. Rivera leads the nation in career games played (209), doubles (64), RBI (177), total bases (400) and walks (138). He is also ranks tied for second in at bats (755) and tied for fourth in hits (237).

ASUN WEEKLY HONORS
After his record-breaking weekend at the plate, Rivera went on to earn the ASUN Player of the Week honor for the third time in his career, tying former Eagles Michael Suchy and Tim Roberson for the most in program history. It also marked the third straight week a member of the Green and Blue has taken home a weekly honor and is the Eagles' fifth total award this season. Gray (Columbus, Ind./Gulf Coast State/Columbus East HS) and junior infielder Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) were named the ASUN Pitcher of the Week and ASUN Player of the Week, respectively, after impressive performances against Florida and Ohio State. Additionally, Crawford (Okeechobee, Fla./Indian River State/Okeechobee HS) was named the Pitcher of the Week after tossing 7.0 scoreless inning at UNC Wilmington, while freshman infielder Richie Garcia (Davie, Fla./West Broward HS) was named the ASUN Player of the Week after opening weekend.

CONFERENCE DOMINANCE
Since joining the ASUN in 2008, FGCU has not only won more regular season conference championships (four) than any other member of the ASUN, 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 ASUN since 2008.
 

No.	School	Overall	ASUN
1.	FGCU (2008-present)	317-215-1	162-83 (.661)
2.	UNF (2008-present)	301-228	132-108 (.550)
3.	Kennesaw State (2008-present)	279-255	143-95 (.601)
4.	Stetson (2008-present)	277-278	132-111 (.543)
5.	Lipscomb (2008-present)	265-277	124-118 (.512)
6.	Jacksonville (2008-present)	254-277	119-122 (.494)
7.	Mercer (2008-14)	243-156	115-82 (.584)
8.	USC Upstate (2008-present)	207-306	82-156 (.345)
9.	ETSU (2008-14)	197-201	88-110 (.444)
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)	20-50	2-18 (.100)

 
CLIMBING THE RANKS
Along with his aforementioned NCAA active ranks, Rivera has already made his mark in FGCU program history as he not only holds the career record for doubles, but also ranks in the top-10 in program history in a number of other offensive categories. The Cape Coral native ranks third in home runs (31), RBI and games played, tied for third in games started (204), tied for fourth in total bases, and seventh in hits and runs scored (143).

CAREER GAMES PLAYED

1.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	216
2.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	214
3.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	209

CAREER GAMES STARTED

1.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	216
2.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	212
3.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	204
	Stephen Wickens (2008-11)	204

CAREER HITS

1.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	316
2.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	311
3.	Jake Noll (2013-16)	267
4.	Stephen Wickens (2008-11)	259
5.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	247
6.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	241
7.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	237

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 (2013-16)	151
7.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	143

CAREER RBI

1.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	180
	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	180
3.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	177

CAREER HOME RUNS

1.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	41
2.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	40
3.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	31

CAREER TOTAL BASES

1.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	418
	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	418
3.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	412
4.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	400
	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	400

 
Like Rivera, senior pitcher Sterling Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS) is honing in on the program's career saves record while Anderson (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto County HS), Dye (DeLand, Fla./DeLand HS) and Kenton Hering (Melbourne, Fla./Eastern Florida State/Viera HS) make their way up a number of other career pitching lists.

CAREER APPEARANCES

1.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	86
2.	RJ Brown (2010-13)	82
3.	Sterling Koerner (2014-present)	80
4.	Brady Anderson (2012-present)	76
5.	Garrett Anderson (2014-present)	73

CAREER SAVES

1.	Sterling Koerner (2014-present)	14
	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	14
3.	Brady Anderson (2012-16)	11
4.	Jack Wagoner (2010-11)	9
	Harrison Wagoner (2011-13)	9
6.	Garrett Anderson (2014-present)	8

 
CAREER GAMES FINISHED

1.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	51
2.	Sterling Koerner (2014-present)	43
3.	Garrett Anderson (2014-present)	31

 
CAREER FEWEST WALKS PER 9.0 IP

1.	Josh Dye (2015-present)	1.11
2.	Sterling Koerner (2014-present)	1.12
3.	Jason Short (2003-05)	1.42
4.	Michael Murray (2013-15)	1.46
5.	Jordan Desguin (2015)	1.60
6.	Garrett Anderson (2014-present)	1.70

 
MOST STRIKEOUTS PER 9.0 IP

1.	Chris Sale (2008-10)	11.53
2.	Brandon Bixler (2001-13)	10.91
3.	Kenton Hering (2016-17)	10.29

 
LOWEST OPPONENT BATTING AVERAGE

1.	Brandon Bixler (2011-13)	.201
2.	Chris Cahil (2003-04)	.207
3.	Jordan Desguin (2015)	.216
4.	Kenton Hering (2016-17)	.219

 
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 15 seasons 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, 15 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.