FORT MYERS, Fla. –  Behind a career-best performance from starting pitcher Mario Leon and clutch two-out hit from shortstop Julio Gonzalez, #9 FGCU (23-3) continued its impressive run through the state of Florida with a 3-0 win against cross-state rival Miami (11-14, 4-5 ACC) Wednesday night at Swanson Stadium.

The win, which came in front of a record crowd of 2,074, was FGCU's ninth consecutive and 19th in its past 20 games. It not only marked the first time the Eagles have defeated the Hurricanes in Fort Myers, but is also the first time the Green and Blue have defeated Florida, FSU and Miami in the same season. Additionally, at 23-3, the Eagles also matched the 2005 team for the best start in program history.

The two teams took four combined hits and a scoreless tie into the bottom of the seventh inning, but FGCU broke through in the home half of the frame when Gonzalez (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Seminole State College (OK)/Brito Miami Private HS) hit a bases-loaded, two-RBI single to center field. Five pitches later, redshirt senior designated hitter Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) ripped a 2-2 fastball off the fence in left field to extend the lead to 3-0.

With Leon's (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) night done after 7.0 shutout innings while allowing only two hits, it was up to Kenton Hering (Melbourne, Fla./Eastern Florida State/Viera HS) and Sterling Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS) to finish things off in the eighth and ninth. As they have done in the last 20.2 combined innings, FGCU's shutdown bullpen duo held the opponents scoreless by retiring all six Hurricanes they faced, with four outs coming via the strikeout. For Koerner, it was his seventh straight perfect inning to close out a game. Additionally, it was the senior's 16th career save and ASUN-best ninth save this season, matching Jack Wagoner's single-season program record that has stood since 2010.

Wednesday night marked FGCU's first shutout win of the season and first since holding Kennesaw State scoreless in game two of the 2016 ASUN Tournament. The Eagles also held the Owls to a season-low two hits at the conference championships.

"We got a tremendous effort from Mario tonight," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "He was on his game, and I think that's without question his best career outing. He took it to another level. We just kept fighting for everything, and when we got a chance in the seventh to take the lead, we took advantage of it. What a big hit from Julio Gonzalez. It was extra special to be able to do it in front of an outstanding crowd at home. I've never seen Swanson Stadium that electric in my 15 years at FGCU."

After Leon (3-1, 2.59) used a 1-6-3 double play to erase a one-out single in the top of the first, FGCU was primed to take an early lead with the bases loaded and one out in its first at-bat. However, Miami starter Greg Veliz (2-2, 2.39) was able to get out of the inning unscathed with a pair of pop outs into shallow right and left field.

From there, the two teams were locked in an old-school pitching duel as a combined five base runners reached from the second through the top of the seventh. After a leadoff single from Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS), FGCU didn't collect its second hit of the game until the bottom of the fourth. Similarly, Miami received a first-inning single from Johnny Ruiz, but didn't record another hit until the top of the fifth.  

Finally, FGCU was able to get on the scoreboard following the seventh-inning stretch. Freshman outfielder Marc Coffers (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS), who returned to the lineup for the first time since Mar. 3, got things going with a one-out single back up the middle, and Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) followed with a single down the first-base line to put runners on the corners. However, a failed safety squeeze left runners on the corners with two outs, and Reardon drew a walk to load the bases. Four pitches later, Gonzalez, who also hit a bases-clearing triple at the beginning of the month against then #2 Florida, broke through with the aforementioned two-RBI single right back up the middle. Riding the momentum, Rivera ripped his 66th career double off the fence in left to bring in another and cap off the scoring for the night.

After turning in its first shutout of the season, the FGCU pitching staff, who entered the game with the 21st best ERA in the country, lowered its mark this season to 2.92. Additionally, during the team's nine-game win streak, the Eagles have turned in a 1.78 staff ERA and haven't allowed more than three earned runs in any game.

UP NEXT
FGCU starts conference play with a three-game series against Jacksonville (12-15) this weekend. Game one at Swanson Stadium is scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by game two Saturday at 2 p.m. and the series finale 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 513-299-3 record (.629) 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.