FORT MYERS, Fla. – In a back-and-forth affair that saw four lead changes with neither team holding a lead of more than two runs until the top of the ninth, #9 FGCU (24-4, 1-1 ASUN) uncharacteristically allowed a pair of big innings in the end and ultimately fell to Jacksonville (13-16, 1-1 ASUN), 10-5, Saturday afternoon at Swanson Stadium.

Entering the top of the eighth inning with a 5-3 lead, Jacksonville's bats came to life with seven runs on 13 hits in the team's final two at-bats. The Dolphins tied the game with two runs in the eighth and looked to score the go-ahead run on before Eli Lovell (Lincoln, Neb./Kansas City Kansas CC/Lincoln Southwest HS) cut pinch runner Connor Stephens down at the plate on a perfect throw from left field. However, Jacksonville kept things going in the top of ninth as it broke a 5-5 tie with five runs on seven hits in the frame. Catcher Matt Cassala blew things open with a bases-clearing double into the right-center-field gap.

FGCU closer and ASUN saves leader Sterling Koerner (1-1, 3.32) suffered his first loss and blown save of the season as he relieved Peyton Gray (Columbus, Ind./Gulf Coast State/Columbus East HS) with one out in the eight. After tossing seven straight perfect frames entering the afternoon, Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS) allowed five runs on 11 hits.

The loss snapped a 10-game win streak for FGCU, which tied for the longest win streak of the season and second longest in Division I program history. It also marked the first game the Eagles have lost this season when leading after seven innings.

"It was a typical Saturday afternoon in the conference," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "It doesn't matter who it's against, it's going to be a battle. They were a little better than we were in the eighth and ninth, and that hasn't been the case for 24 games this season. We'll strap them back on and get ready to go tomorrow."

After Jacksonville jumped out to an early lead on Seth Dewitt's 12-pitch at-bat that resulted in a solo home run to left field off Josh Dye (DeLand, Fla./DeLand HS) in the top of the second, FGCU tied the game with a run in the home half of the third and took the lead with another in the next frame.

Leadoff man Matt Reardon (Palm City, Fla./Martin County HS) started the third with a double to right field, and tempers started to flare when Jacksonville starter Chris Gau threw at FGCU two-hole hitter Julio Gonzalez (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Seminole State College (OK)/Brito Miami Private HS), who had called time in the box. The Eagles were able to tie it on Lovell's RBI grounder to second base that resulted in an error, but FGCU left a pair of runners on as Gau struck out Spencer Levine (Miami, Fla./Seminole State College/Miami Killian Senior HS) to end the inning. Tempers stayed hot when the Jacksonville starter shouted profanity at Levine on his way to the dugout.

In its next at-bat, the Green and Blue claimed its first lead of the game. After Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a passed ball, Richie Garcia (Davie, Fla./West Broward HS) ripped a 3-1 fastball down the left field line to score Morey.

However, Jacksonville responded with two runs in the top of the fifth and reclaimed its early lead. Leadoff hitter Nathan Koslowski delivered with a RBI single through the right side of the infield, and Scott Dubrule drove in another on a groundout to short.

FGCU went quietly in the bottom of the fifth, but continued to back-and-forth battle with three runs in the home half of the sixth. After Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a sac bunt, Garcia evened things up with a RBI triple that ran Gau from the game. Reardon and Gonzalez then greeted Jacksonville reliever Matt Meyer with a RBI triple and RBI single, respectively, on his first two pitches to take a 5-3 lead.

From there, though, the Eagles were outhit 14 to two in the game's final three innings and ultimately suffered the defeat after the Dolphins' aforementioned eighth and ninth innings.

FGCU entered the game with a 20.1 inning scoreless streak and pushed the total to 21.2 innings before allowing the Dewitt home run. Jacksonville's 10-run and 21-hit performance comes on the heels of the Eagles' back-to-back two-hit shutouts. The 10 runs were the most allowed since falling to Bethune-Cookman, 13-7, on Feb. 24, and the 21 hits were the most since also giving up 21 at USC Upstate last season.

Offensively, FGCU turned in its 14th game with 10 or more hits and was led by two-hit games from Reardon, Marc Coffers (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS), Rivera and Garcia. Reardon extended his hit streak to eight games while both he and Garcia turned in a double and a triple in today's contest.

UP NEXT
The series finale and rubber match between the Eagles and Dolphins is on tap for Sunday at 1 p.m. FGCU will send senior right hander Garrett Anderson (2-0, 4.08) to the mound to face Jacksonville's Casey Kulina (2-0, 2.57).

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 514-300-3 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.