FORT MYERS, Fla. – After plating seven runs on 11 hits in last night's win, #29 FGCU (27-10, 3-5 ASUN) failed to record an extra base hit for just the fourth time this season as the Eagles fell to USC Upstate (16-21, 2-6 ASUN), 3-1, Friday night at Swanson Stadium.

All four instances in which the Green and Blue have failed to manage an extra-base hit have come in the last nine games. FGCU got its first base runner aboard with two outs in the fourth inning and its first hit to lead off the fifth. Four of the Eagles' five hits came with two outs, but the team failed to string anything together in an effort to mount a comeback.

FGCU left hander Josh Dye (6-2, 2.57) suffered the tough-luck loss as he pitched 6.0 innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Opposite Dye (DeLand, Fla./DeLand HS), USC Upstate starter Kevin Hickey (3-4, 3.19) earned the win after tossing 7.2 innings and allowing on unearned run on five hits with two walks and eighth strikeouts.

"We just didn't do enough to get the win tonight, plain and simple," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "I thought Josh pitched well. He had a couple of uncharacteristic walks, but did a good job of getting himself out of trouble at times. Their guy was good tonight. He was able to keep us off balance, and we weren't able to string anything together. We'll regroup and be right back out here tomorrow to try and win this series."

USC Upstate wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard as Devon Ortiz led off the game with an infield single, advanced to third on Hunter Gilbert's single thru the right side and scored as Julio Gonzalez (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Seminole State College (OK)/Brito Miami Private HS) made an errant throw on what would have been an inning-ending double play.

After both pitchers had done their job of holding the opposing offense in check early on, Jake Bourke led off the top of the fifth inning with a single to left field. Three batters later, Bourke stood on third base and Charlie Carpenter came through with a two-out RBI single to almost the same spot in shallow left as USC Upstate extended its lead to 2-0.

The visiting Spartans threatened to extend their lead again in the top of the seventh as they loaded the bases with one out. However, with Mario Leon (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) on the mound in relief, the redshirt junior hurler escaped the jam with a strikeout and groundout to end the threat.

Following the seventh inning stretch, FGCU got on the scoreboard as Richie Garcia (Davie, Fla./West Broward HS) and Alex Brait (Viera, Fla./Viera HS) hit back-to-back, two-out singles before Garcia came in to score from second on an error by USC Upstate first baseman Jordan Miller.

After FGCU threatened again with two outs in the bottom of the eighth but stranded a pair of runners, center fielder Russ Schwertfeger started the top of the ninth inning with a solo home run to left field. It was the Spartans' first extra-base hit of the series.

In the Eagles' last at-bat, pinch hitter Eli Lovell (Lincoln, Neb./Kansas City Kansas CC/Lincoln Southwest HS) reached on a two-out error, and Corey Fehribach (Douglasville, Ga./West Georgia CC/Alexander HS) stepped to the plate representing the tying run. However, Spartan reliever Trey Van Der Weide induced a game-ending groundout to first.

UP NEXT
The third and final game of the series between the Eagles and Spartans is scheduled for Saturday at noon. FGCU will send senior right hander Garrett Anderson (2-1, 3.09) to the mound to face USC Upstate right hander Blake Whitney (4-3, 6.53).

TICKETS
Single game tickets for the remainder of the 2017 FGCU baseball season are now sale. 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 517-306-3 record (.626) 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 visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.