FORT MYERS, Fla. – Despite a late rally, the FGCU baseball team (13-5) dropped the second contest of a three-game series Saturday afternoon to Rutgers (11-6), 6-3.
 
Jay Hayes hit his second home run of the year and scored two runs as part of a 2-4 day at the plate, while designated hitter Kohl Gilmore went 2-5 with a pair of RBI to lead the Eagles' offense.
 
FGCU dug itself a 3-0 deficit in the 6th inning before getting one run back in the bottom of the frame. However, the Big Ten member responded with three runs in the 7th, creating enough separation to stave off an FGCU rally which included a pair of runs in the 8th and bringing the tying run to the plate in the 9th.
 
Josh Dye (3-1) started on the mound for the Eagles and suffered a tough loss, going six innings while allowing three runs – only one of which was earned – on six hits and striking out six. Dye (DeLand, Fla./DeLand HS), who lowered his ERA to a team-best 1.74 on the year, walked just one.
 
He was opposed by Rutgers starter Harry Rutkowski, who also went six innings and scattered four hits while allowed one earned run. He struck out seven and walked three, but was able to dance around some trouble to pick up the win.
 
"We had some chances to score a few times, but he (Rutkowski) was good," stated FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "We didn't get a lead-off hitter on until the 7th, but we still had some opportunities. They were better than us today, but hopefully we can salvage a game out of the series tomorrow."
 
In a testament to Tollett's comments, the Eagles had the bases loaded in the 2nd – and Rutgers in the 3rd – but neither team was able to push across a run until the 5th.
 
The Scarlett Knights took a 2-0 lead in the top of that frame off a two-run single from Mike Nyistor. Both runs were unearned as the Eagles' fielding did Dye no favors after the southpaw retired the first two batters of the inning.
 
Rutgers would add to its lead in the 6th with a manufactured run – a lead-off double, sacrifice bunt and sacrifice fly by Tyler McNamara plated Kyle Walker to make it 3-0.
 
The Eagles responded in the bottom of the frame on the Hayes (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lyman HS) one-out solo shot to left center. However, the Scarlett Knights bounced back with three runs in the 7th to extend their lead to 6-1.
 
That score line would stay intact into the 8th thanks to a quality appearance out of the bullpen by Trey Vickery (Port Orange, Fla./Spruce Creek HS), who retired all four batters he faced after relieving Parker Hamilton (Jupiter, Fla./Jupiter HS).
 
Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) led off the Eagles' portion of the 8th with a single to center. He moved up 90 feet on a single to left by Hayes, and both players scored on a Gilmore (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS/Indian River State) single, aided by a miscue by the Rutgers' center fielder.
 
After Sebastian Gruszecki (Dudley, Mass./Shepherd Hill Regional HS) worked a scoreless 9th, the Eagles would bring the tying run to the plate in the bottom, but a ground out ended the contest.
 
The final game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at 12 p.m.
 
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 16th season, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 546-321-3 record (.626) as the only head coach in the program's history and is coming off the program's first trip to the NCAA Tournament. He is a four-time ASUN Coach of the Year and has guided the Green and Blue to four ASUN Regular Season Championships and one ASUN Tournament Championship. His team has been ranked nationally on several occasions, including as high as #9 in the country in 2017, and has coached 49 All-Conference selections, 29 draft picks, three current major leaguers, 15 current minor leaguers, four ASUN Pitchers of the Year, four All-Americans, three 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.