FORT MYERS, Fla. – After entering the national polls Monday afternoon, the FGCU baseball team (11-2) validated its #24 ranking and extended its win streak to seven games with a 7-3 win against #2 Florida (10-3) in front of a crowd of 2,717 at JetBlue Park Tuesday evening.

By taking down the #2 Gators for the first time since 2014, FGCU defeated the #2 team in the country for the second time in program history. Additionally, the Eagles – who checked in at #22 in the RPI entering the game – matched the 2008 team for the best start in Division I program history, and the seven-game win streak is the longest since also winning seven straight in 2014.

A four-run bottom of the fourth inning proved to be the difference for the Green and Blue as Julio Gonzalez (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Seminole State College (OK)/Brito Miami Private HS) provided the big blow with a two-out, bases-loaded triple to deep center field.

Mario Leon (1-1, 3.77) turned in a career day on the mound as he tossed a season-high 7.0 innings and held Florida to two runs on six hits. Leon (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) faced the minimum in five of seven innings thanks to a pair of double plays. The local product also struck out three batters while issuing no walks.

"What a great venue and great night it turned out to be," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett, who was honored for his 500th prior to the game. "To beat the second-ranked team in the country is pretty special, but, as a head coach, I still don't know we've played our best. We got a great effort from Mario on the mound, and Julio came through with the big hit. It was a great night, and win 501 feels just as good as 500, I'll tell you that."

Florida was the first to get on the scoreboard with a run on a two-out single in the top of the third. However, it didn't take FGCU long to respond as Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) ripped a two-out single of his own to left in the home half to even the score at one.

The following inning, the Green and Blue busted things open with the aforementioned four-run fourth. With runners on the corners and two outs, Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) gave FGCU the lead as he hit a slow roller to third and reached as the throw from Jonathan India pulled JJ Schwarz off the bag at first and allowed Corey Fehribach (Douglasville, Ga./West Georgia CC/Alexander HS) to score. Leadoff man Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) then extended the inning as he busted it down the line to beat out a ground ball to third and load the bases. The following pitch, Gonzalez provided the fireworks as he crushed a ball to deep center field and cleared the bases to give FGCU a 5-1 lead.

Florida responded with a run in the top of the fifth as nine-hole hitter Mark Kolozsvary hit a two-out single over the glove of a leaping Reardon at second base to score Dalton Liput from second.

However, after a 1-2-3 inning from Leon in the Gators' next at bat, the Green and Blue got the run back and then some to make it a 7-2 ballgame through six innings. Florida reliever Andrew Baker issued back-to-back walks and allowed a sac bunt to start the frame, before Reardon hit a RBI single up the middle and Gonzalez followed by driving in his fourth run of the game on a single through the right side.

Florida scratched another run across in the top of the eighth, but it was too little, too late for the Gators as FGCU senior relievers Garrett Anderson (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto County HS) and Sterling Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS) sealed the deal in the final two frames.

After entering the game in search of his first collegiate hit, Alex Brait (Viera, Fla./Viera HS) broke through in a big way as he went 3-for-3 with one walk and three runs scored. Reardon matched Brait with his second three-hit performance of the season, while Gonzalez went 2-for-4 with four RBI.

UP NEXT
The two teams will be right back at it tomorrow evening for the second game of their midweek series in Alfred A. McKethan Stadium. First pitch in the Gators' home ballpark is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

2017 SCHEDULE
The Eagles' schedule features eight teams that participated in the 2016 NCAA Base­ball Tournament including a pair of College World Series participants in preseason #2 Florida and preseason #8 Miami along with Super Regional participant and preseason #3 FSU. The five remaining NCAA Tournament teams include defending Big Ten Tournament Champion Ohio State, defending ASUN Tournament Champion Stetson, defending CAA Champion UNC Wilmington, defending C-USA Champion FAU and defending MEAC Tournament Champion Bethune-Cookman. Twenty-six of FGCU's first 30 games will be contested in Southwest Florida with 24 games scheduled to be played at Swanson Stadium and two additional games at JetBlue Park, the Spring Training home of the Boston Red Sox. From Feb. 24 through Mar. 15, the Eagles are scheduled to play 13 consecutive games against five of the aforementioned NCAA Tournament teams.

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. Additonally, tickets for FGCU's game versus preseason #3 FSU can be purchased online by clicking here or by calling the JetBlue Park Ticket Office at 239-334-4700.

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 501-298-3 record (.625) 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.