DELAND, Fla. – In a rematch of last year's dramatic ASUN Tournament Championship Game, #9 FGCU (24-7, 1-2 ASUN) travels to Stetson (13-18, 3-0 ASUN) for its second conference series of the season this weekend. Game one at Melching Field is scheduled for Friday at 6:30 p.m. and will be followed by game two Saturday at 2 p.m. and the series finale Sunday at 1 p.m.
 
FGCU will stick with its rotation from conference-opening weekend and send Kutter Crawford (5-0, 1.04) to the mound for his second straight Friday night start opposite Stetson right hander Brooks Wilson (2-2, 3.33). Eagles' southpaw Josh Dye (5-1, 3.14) will then toe the rubber against Jack Perkins (3-3, 2.67) in game two, while Garrett Anderson (2-0, 3.53) and Logan Gilbert (5-0, 2.32) will go at it in the series finale.
 
All three games in DeLand will be broadcasted on ESPN3, and fans can also track the live stats on Stat Broadcast.
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU holds a 19-11 advantage in its all-time series against Stetson and has won 12 of its last 17 matchups with the Hatters. Additionally, the Eagles have had success at Stetson's home ballpark as they have taken 10 of 15 games played at Melching Field in the rivalry. Last year, after FGCU took two of three from Stetson in the regular season, the two teams met again in the ASUN Tournament Championship Game. Entering its last at-bat in a three-run deficit, the Green and Blue pushed a pair of runs across to cut Stetson's lead to one and had the tying run in scoring position. However, outfielder Vance Vizcaino prevented former Eagle Jake Noll from tying the game as he made a catch while crashing into the outfield wall to end the game.

COACHING MATCHUP
FGCU founding head coach Dave Tollett has posted a 514-303-3 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 weekend, Tollett matches up with Stetson head coach Steve Trimper, who is 13-18 in his first season with the Hatters. Prior to Stetson, Trimper spent 11 season as the head coach at the University of Maine, where he posted a 309-292-2 record.
 
SCOUTING THE HATTERS
Stetson enters the weekend series with a 13-18 overall record and perfect 3-0 mark in conference play after sweeping NJIT last weekend. The weekend prior, the Hatters also secured an impressive series win at Tulane and have won five of their last seven games. Before dropping a midweek contest at UCF last night, Stetson held a 10-1 lead over Florida in the top of the fifth inning. However, rain halted the game and it was not completed nor an official result.
 
Offensively, the Hatters rank sixth in the conference with a .264 team average but hit .313 in last weekend's conference opening series against the Highlanders. Stetson is led by a trio of hitters hitting above .300 in Jack Gonzalez (.322), Jacob Koos (.317) and Ben Rowdon (.305). Austin Bogart leads the team with four home runs, while Mike Spooner has driven in a team-best 25.
 
On the mound, the Hatters' workhorses in their starting rotation are joined by formidable duo out of the bullpen. Ryan Stark and Joey Gonzalez have split duties as the team's closers and combined for seven saves this season. Gonzalez (1-0, 4.78) has turned in five saves this season – tied for second best in the ASUN – while Stark (1-2, 4.63) has chipped in with a pair. Stetson has recorded 310 strikeouts this season and ranks eighth in the country with 10.0 strikeouts per 9.0 innings pitched.
 
TALE OF TWO MONTHS
After going 7-2 in February and 17-1 during March, FGCU has started April with four straight losses. 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.
 
THROWING UP ZEROES
FGCU turned in back-to-back shutouts against Miami and Jacksonville last week, marking the first time since 2014 the Eagles have shut out their opponents in back-to-back games. With a 3.17 staff ERA through 31 games this season, FGCU currently ranks 23rd 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 282 strikeouts to go along with only 78 walks, the Eagles' 3.62 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks fifth in the NCAA.
 
MAKING HIS MARK
Redshirt senior designated hitter Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS) not only set FGCU's all-time record in games played Tuesday night in Tallahassee, but also surpassed the program record for RBI during the contest with the Seminoles. Rivera's two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning catapulted him past former Eagles Zach Maxfield and Tim Roberson, who have shared the previous record (180) since 2011. After driving in four runs against FSU, Rivera has now totaled 183 RBI in his illustrious career.
 
MIDSEASON AWARDS
With the regular season just past its midway point, Tollett has been named the Perfect Game Midseason Coach of the Year, while Crawford (Okeechobee, Fla./Indian River State/Okeechobee HS) has earned Midseason All-American honors, it was announced Thursday morning.

In 31 games this season, Tollett and the Eagles have 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 is not only one of 10 starting pitchers across the country to be recognized as a Midseason All-American, but is 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 4-2 in games versus Florida, FSU and Miami this season with two more road games against the Hurricanes. The Eagles entered the week a perfect 4-0 against the 'Big Three' opponents but dropped a pair of midweek games at FSU by one run this week. After also taking down in-state rival FAU at the end of April, 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, last Wednesday night, FGCU has now defeated the Gators, Seminoles and Hurricanes in the same season for the first time in program history.
 
IN THE RANKINGS
Despite dropping the final two games of the series against Jacksonville, FGCU remained in the #9 spot in the Collegiate Baseball Newspaper poll released Monday afternoon, maintaining the highest ranking ever achieved by any FGCU athletics program.

Along with its top-10 national ranking, the Green and Blue appeared in the top-20 in four other nationally-recognized polls released Monday. The Eagles are ranked #16 by Perfect Game, #17 in the USA TODAY Coaches poll, #18 by Baseball America and #20 by D1 Baseball.

FGCU is the second-highest ranked non-Power Five program in the country behind St. John's according to Collegiate Baseball Newspaper. Additionally, the Eagles are the third highest according to Baseball American and the USA Today Coaches poll, fourth highest according to Perfect Game and fifth highest according to D1 Baseball.
 
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 completing the 'Big Three' Florida sweep with a shutout win against Miami last Wednesday night and taking a game against Jacksonville, Tollett has now pushed his win total to 514. 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, Rivera 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 (218), doubles (66), RBI (183) and total bases (414) while also ranking tied for the active lead in walks (147). Additionally, Rivera ranks fourth in at-bats (782) and tied for fourth in hits (246).

ASUN WEEKLY HONORS
After pitching 7.0 shutout innings and leading FGCU to its first home win against Miami in program history, 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)	322-219-1	163-85 (.657)
2.	UNF (2008-present)	306-232	134-109 (.551)
3.	Kennesaw State (2008-present)	283-260	144-97 (.598)
4.	Stetson (2008-present)	282-281	135-111 (.549)
5.	Lipscomb (2008-present)	269-281	126-119 (.514)
6.	Jacksonville (2008-present)	258-281	121-123 (.496)
7.	Mercer (2008-14)	243-156	115-82 (.584)
8.	USC Upstate (2008-present)	209-312	83-158 (.344)
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)	20-58	2-21 (.087)

 
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 and RBI, but also ranks in the top-10 in program history in a number of other offensive categories. The Cape Coral native ranks second in games started (213), third in home runs (32) and total bases, sixth in hits and seventh in runs scored (147).

CAREER GAMES PLAYED

1.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	218
2.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	216
3.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	214

CAREER GAMES STARTED

1.	Josh Upchurch (2006-09)	216
2.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	213
3.	Mikel Alvarez (2008-11)	212

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.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	247
6.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	246

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.	Jake Noll (2013-16)	151
7.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	147

CAREER RBI

1.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	183
2.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	180
	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	180

CAREER HOME RUNS

1.	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	41
2.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	40
3.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	32

CAREER TOTAL BASES

1.	Tim Roberson (2008-11)	418
	Zach Maxfield (2009-11)	418
3.	Nick Rivera (2013-present)	414

 
Senior pitcher Sterling Koerner (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS) recently broke the program's career saves record and matched the single-season record with a save against the Hurricanes last Wednesday night. He is joined by Anderson (Arcadia, Fla./DeSoto County HS), Dye (DeLand, Fla./DeLand HS) 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)	16
2.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	14
3.	Brady Anderson (2012-16)	11
4.	Jack Wagoner (2010-11)	9
	Harrison Wagoner (2011-13)	9
6.	Garrett Anderson (2014-present)	8

 
SINGLE SEASON SAVES

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

 
CAREER APPEARANCES

1.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	86
2.	Sterling Koerner (2014-present)	85
	RJ Brown (2010-13)	82
4.	Brady Anderson (2012-present)	76
5.	Garrett Anderson (2014-present)	75

 
CAREER GAMES FINISHED

1.	J.J. Crumbley (2005-08)	51
2.	Sterling Koerner (2014-present)	48
3.	Garrett Anderson (2014-present)	31

 
CAREER FEWEST WALKS PER 9.0 IP

1.	Josh Dye (2015-present)	0.96
2.	Sterling Koerner (2014-present)	1.09
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)	1.69

 
MOST STRIKEOUTS PER 9.0 IP

1.	Chris Sale (2008-10)	11.53
2.	Brandon Bixler (2001-13)	10.91
3.	Kenton Hering (2016-17)	10.33

 
LOWEST OPPONENT BATTING AVERAGE

1.	Brandon Bixler (2011-13)	.201
2.	Chris Cahil (2003-04)	.207
3.	Jordan Desguin (2015)	.216
4.	Kenton Hering (2016-17)	.227

 
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 514-303-3 record (.627) 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.