JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – After getting out to an early lead behind a solo home run from Richie Garcia in the top of the second inning, FGCU (28-14, 4-7 ASUN) failed to preserve its one-run advantage for the second straight game as the Eagles lost to UNF (28-15, 9-2 ASUN), 8-2, Saturday afternoon at Harmon Stadium.

After Garcia (Davie, Fla./West Broward HS) hit his third home run of the season to start things off, UNF evened the score with a run in the bottom of the fourth before taking a comfortable lead with three runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh.

Down 6-1, FGCU plated a run and had the bases loaded with one out in the top of the eighth, but the Eagles left the bases loaded for the second time in the game. UNF then responded with two or more runs in its third straight inning to get to the 8-2 final.

Both starting pitchers factored into the decision as FGCU southpaw Josh Dye (6-3, 2.90) suffered his second straight loss after allowing four runs on eight hits in 6.0 innings of work. Opposite Dye (DeLand, Fla./DeLand HS), UNF starter Frank German (7-0, 2.13) allowed one run on three hits in 7.0 innings pitched and earned the win. The two were locked in a pitching duel until UNF began to break things open with three runs on four hits in the home half of the sixth.

"We just didn't do enough things right to get the job done today," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "We had a chance to extend our lead early on and left some runners on base in key situations. I thought Josh pitched well. He just left some balls up in the zone late in his outing, and UNF was able to take advantage. We'll get some rest tonight and try to come back out here tomorrow and leave with a win."

Garcia got the Green and Blue out to an early lead for the first time this week as he sent a 2-1 pitch from German over the left-field fence – his third home run of the season. However, the Eagles managed only three hits through the seventh inning and didn't have enough firepower to keep up with the ASUN's best offense.  

Playing with an early lead, FGCU had an opportunity to do more damage against the homestanding Ospreys as the Eagles loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the third. However, a harmless pop up to first base ended the frame with three runners left on base.

From there, UNF's offense started to wake up. An RBI single from Chris Berry in the bottom of the fourth evened things up, before the Ospreys took its first lead of the game in the aforementioned sixth inning. Christian Diaz provided the go-ahead RBI single, while Wesley Weeks added a sacrifice fly and Rey Gonzalez drove in another. With German still going strong on the mound, UNF tacked on two more in its next at-bat on a two-RBI single through the left side by Alex Merritt.

The Eagles responded in the top of the eighth with a run on sacrifice fly from Julio Gonzalez (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Seminole State College (OK)/Brito Miami Private HS) and had the bases loaded with one out. However, UNF reliever Matthew Naylor got out of the inning without further damage on a strikeout and groundout.

The Ospreys capped off the scoring for the afternoon with two more runs in the bottom of the eighth. With runners on the corners and one out, Chris Thibideau hit a two-RBI double to left-center field.

Offensively, seven of the nine Eagles recorded a hit in the game, but only Spencer Levine (Miami, Fla./Seminole State College/Miami Killian Senior HS) managed more than one.

UP NEXT
The third and final game of the weekend series is scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. Senior right hander Garrett Anderson (3-1, 3.10) will make the start for FGCU opposite UNF's Brad Deppermann (3-2, 5.35).

TICKETS
Single game tickets for the remainder of the 2017 FGCU baseball season are on 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 518-310-3 record (.623) 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.