FORT MYERS, Fla. – Coming off its first conference series win this season, #29 FGCU (28-10, 4-5 ASUN) will rekindle its in-state rivalry against FIU (21-15, 8-7 C-USA) as the Eagles and Panthers will meet in a home-and-home midweek series. Game one is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Swanson Stadium with game two taking place Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in Miami.
 
Starting pitchers for both FGCU and FIU are yet to be determined. Tuesday's game at Swanson Stadium will be streamed on ASUN.TV and live stats can be found on FGCUAthletics.com. Additionally, live stats for Wednesday's game at the FIU Baseball Stadium can be found here.
 
Fans who will be in attendance at Swanson Stadium Tuesday evening are encouraged to wear white as the game has been deemed a whiteout by the FGCU Marketing Department.
 
SERIES HISTORY
In a series that has been put on hold since 2013, FGCU has an 8-5 advantage against FIU. The Eagles and Panthers played every year from 2008-13, but haven't met since. It was a series of runs in its early stages as FGCU won the first two and five of the first six meetings before FIU went on to take four of the next five decisions. Most recently, the Eagles claimed both games in a doubleheader played during the 2013 season.

COACHING MATCHUP
FGCU founding head coach Dave Tollett has posted a 518-306-3 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 week, Tollett matches up with first-year FIU head coach Mervyl Melendez. After previously serving as the head coach at both Alabama State and Bethune-Cookman, Melendez has compiled a 558-452 overall record in his 18th season as a head coach.
 
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
FIU enters the midweek matchup with a 21-15 overall record and 8-7 mark in C-USA play. After starting the season 2-6, the Panthers are 19-9 since and have won four of their last five games while coming off a series win against UTSA.

Offensively, FIU and FGCU have put up similar numbers as the Panthers are hitting .276 as a team while scoring 5.9 runs on 9.0 hits per game. In comparison, the Eagles are hitting .273 and scoring 6.1 runs on 9.0 hits per game. Individually, Kenny Meimerstorf and Irving Lopez lead the way with respective batting averages of .362 and .324 while playing and starting in all 36 games. Meimerstorf also leads the Panthers with 27 RBI, while JC Escarra has hit a team-best seven home runs.
 
On the mound, FIU will likely go with right hander Robert Garcia (3-4, 3.69) in one of the two matchups. The Panthers have also started Michael Agis (0-2, 3.50), Tyler Myrick (3-2, 4.09) and Nick MacDonald (6-0, 2.27) in midweek games this season. Out of the bullpen, Chandler Raiden has been the team's most used arm with 16 appearances and a pair of saves. Dominic LoBrutto has turned in a team-best three saves on the season.
 
THROWING UP ZEROES
FGCU turned in back-to-back shutouts with wins against Miami and Jacksonville at the end of March, marking the first time since 2014 the Eagles had shut out their opponents in back-to-back games. With a 3.04 staff ERA through 38 games this season, FGCU currently ranks 13th in the country in the category. A big reason the Green and Blue has been able to hold its opponents in check is command of the strike zone. With 333 strikeouts to go along with only 99 walks, the Eagles' 3.36 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks seventh in the NCAA. Individually, Kutter Crawford (Okeechobee, Fla./Indian River State/Okeechobee HS) ranks ninth in the NCAA with a 1.15 ERA, while Josh Dye (DeLand, Fla./DeLand HS) ranks tied for 10th with a 9.00 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

TALE OF TWO MONTHS
After going 7-2 in February and 17-1 during March, FGCU started April with five straight losses and is 4-7 during the month. The Eagles' impressive run during March came during its toughest stretch of games this season. With notable wins against #1 FSU and #2 Florida, FGCU capped off a 13-game stretch against 2016 NCAA Tournament teams with an 11-2 record. With the win against the Seminoles, the Eagles not only took down its first top-ranked opponent in program history, but also finished off a 10-game stretch against #1 or #2 seeds from last year's tournament at 9-1.
 
MIDSEASON AWARDS
With the regular season past its midway point, Tollett was named the Perfect Game Midseason Coach of the Year, while Crawford earned Midseason All-American honors, it was announced Thursday, Apr. 6.

In 38 games this season, Tollett and the Eagles have not only surpassed its win total from last year, but have also already checked off a laundry list of program firsts. The team's 24-3 record to start the season far exceeded the program's previous Division I record and also surpassed FGCU's all-time best mark of 23-3 set in 2005.
 
Crawford was not only one of 10 starting pitchers across the country to be recognized as a Midseason All-American, but was also the lone member of the ASUN to be recognized and one of two non-Power Five pitchers on the list.
 
BATTLE FOR STATE SUPREMACY
FGCU is 5-2 in games versus Florida, FSU and Miami this season with one more road game against the Hurricanes. The Eagles entered the week of Apr. 3 a perfect 4-0 against the 'Big Three' opponents but dropped a pair of midweek games at FSU by one run. After also taking down in-state rival FAU at the end of February, the Eagles swept the then #2 Gators in a pair of midweek games on Mar. 7 and 8 before turning around the following week and defeating then #1 FSU. Additionally, after defeating cross-state rival Miami, 3-0, on Mar. 29, FGCU has now defeated the Gators, Seminoles and Hurricanes in the same season for the first time in program history. FGCU also took down Miami in the second of three meetings this season and claimed the season series against the Hurricanes by the first time in program history.
 
IN THE RANKINGS
Despite its 4-7 record to start April, FGCU remains ranked in one of six nationally-recognized polls as the NCBWA tabbed the Eagles #29 in its latest top-30. The Eagles occupied the #9 spot in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll from Mar. 27 through Apr. 9, which marked the highest ranking ever achieved by any FGCU athletics program.

500-WIN CLUB…AND COUNTING
Tollett joined the illustrious 500-win club as FGCU capped off its weekend sweep at UNC Wilmington with a 10-1 win on Mar. 5. After going 3-1 against Miami and USC Upstate last week, Tollett has now pushed his win total to 518. 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 joined Kennesaw State's Mike Sansing and UNF's Smoke Laval as the only active head coaches in the league with 500 or more wins, and the trio was recently joined by Lipscomb's Jeff Forehand.
 
NCAA ACTIVE LEADER
In his final season with the Green and Blue, designated hitter Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) 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 (225), doubles (67), RBI (188), total bases (428) and walks (153). Additionally, Rivera ranks fourth in at-bats (807) and tied for fifth in hits (253).

ASUN WEEKLY HONORS
After pitching 7.0 shutout innings and leading FGCU to its first home win against Miami in program history on Mar. 29, Mario Leon (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) was named the ASUN Baseball Pitcher of the Week. The award not only marked the first of the career for Leon, but was also the sixth total award and third Pitcher of the Week honor for the Green and Blue. The three Pitcher of the Week awards is the most since former Eagle Michael Murray took home the honor on four occasions during the 2014 season. A complete list of FGCU's weekly award winners from this season in included below.
 

Player of the Week	Pitcher of the Week
Richie Garcia (Feb. 20)	Kutter Crawford (Mar. 6)
Matt Reardon (Mar. 13)	Peyton Gray (Mar. 13)
Nick Rivera (Mar. 20)	Mario Leon (Apr. 3)

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)	326-222-1	166-88 (.654)
2.	UNF (2008-present)	312-233	139-110 (.558)
3.	Kennesaw State (2008-present)	288-262	149-98 (.603)
4.	Stetson (2008-present)	285-285	138-114 (.548)
5.	Lipscomb (2008-present)	270-286	127-124 (.506)
6.	Jacksonville (2008-present)	265-281	127-123 (.508)
7.	Mercer (2008-14)	243-156	115-82 (.584)
8.	USC Upstate (2008-present)	211-317	84-163 (.340)
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)	20-64	2-27 (.069)

 
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 games played, doubles, RBI and total bases, but also ranks in the top-10 in program history in a number of other offensive categories. The Cape Coral native ranks first in games started (220), third in home runs (34), fifth in hits and tied for sixth in runs scored (151).

CAREER GAMES PLAYED

1.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	225
2.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	216
3.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	214

CAREER GAMES STARTED

1.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	220
2.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	216
3.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	212

CAREER RBI

1.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	188
2.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	180
	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	180

CAREER DOUBLES

1.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	67
2.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	54
3.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	47
	Jason Louwsma (2005-06)	47
	Colton Bottomley (2013-16)	47

CAREER TOTAL BASES

1.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	428
2.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	418
	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	418

CAREER HOME RUNS

1.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	41
2.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	40
3.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	34

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.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	253

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.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	151
	Jake Noll (2013-16)	151

 
Senior pitcher Sterling Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS) recently broke the program's career and single-season saves record with an ASUN-best 10 saves on the season and also set the career appearances mark. He is joined by Crawford, Garrett Anderson (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto County HS), Dye and Kenton Hering (Melbourne, Fla./Eastern Florida State/Viera HS), who also make their way up a number of career lists.
 
CAREER SAVES

1.	Sterling Koerner (2014-present)	17
2.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	14
3.	Brady Anderson (2012-16)	11
4.	Jack Wagoner (2010-11)	9
	Harrison Cooney (2011-13)	9
6.	Garrett Anderson (2014-present)	8

 
SINGLE SEASON SAVES

1.	Sterling Koerner (2017)	10
2.	Jack Wagoner (2010)	9
3.	Brady Anderson (2014)	7

 
CAREER APPEARANCES

1.	Sterling Koerner (2014-present)	88
2.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	86
3.	RJ Brown (2010-13)	82
4.	Garrett Anderson (2014-present)	77

 
LOWEST ERA (MIN. 40 IP)

1.	Kutter Crawford (2017)	1.15
2.	Chris Sale (2008-10)	2.52
3.	Richard Bleier (2006-08)	2.70

 
CAREER FEWEST WALKS PER 9.0 IP (MIN 40 IP)

1.	Josh Dye (2015-present)	1.02
2.	Sterling Koerner (2014-present)	1.06
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)	1.67

 
MOST STRIKEOUTS PER 9.0 IP (MIN 40 IP)

1.	Chris Sale (2008-10)	11.53
2.	Kutter Crawford (2017)	11.11
3.	Brandon Bixler (2001-13)	10.91
4.	Kenton Hering (2016-present)	10.31

 
LOWEST OPPONENT BATTING AVERAGE (MIN 40 IP)

1.	Kutter Crawford (2017)	.174
2.	Brandon Bixler (2011-13)	.201
3.	Chris Cahil (2003-04)	.207
4.	Jordan Desguin (2015)	.216
5.	Kenton Hering (2016-present)	.226

 
CAREER GAMES FINISHED

1.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	51
2.	Sterling Koerner (2014-present)	49
3.	Garrett Anderson (2014-present)	31

 
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 518-306-3 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.