FORT MYERS, Fla. – Trailing 8-3 after six innings, the FGCU baseball team scored five runs in the seventh to tie the game before the Eagles capitalized on an error in the ninth to claim a 9-8 win in the series finale over Rutgers.

"I don't think in 30 years I've ever given up seven runs in an inning and then come back to win," said head coach Dave Tollett. "These guys fought today, they fought for everything. It was good for us to pull out on a win on a Sunday"

Spencer Levine (Miami, Fla./Miami Killian Senior HS/Seminole State College) gave FGCU a boost with a three-run home run in the third, giving Evan Lumbert (Orlando, Fla./Boone HS/South Florida State) and the Eagles a 3-1 advantage, however, the game changed in the sixth with a seven-run inning for the visitors. FGCU bounced back though, scoring five times in the seventh, including a three-run double off Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lyman HS). After Kenton Hering (Melbourne, Fla./Viera HS/Eastern Florida State College) posted zeroes in the eighth and ninth, FGCU capitalized on one final miscue on the part of the Scarlet Knights, scoring Cameron Krzeminski (Coral Springs, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS).

Both starters cruised through the first inning and conceded runs in the second. Lumbert allowed a run on a groundout to short while the Eagles posted a crooked number in their half. Trailing 1-0, Levine stepped to the plate with Eric Gonzalez (Miami, Fla./American Senior HS/ASA College) and Kohl Gilmore (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS/Indian River State) on the bases. Facing a 2-2 count, Levine lined a home run to left to give the home team a 3-1 lead.

The pitchers then took over until the sixth when the Scarlet Knights scored seven runs in the sixth to make it 8-3 in favor of Rutgers.

When Rutgers went to the bullpen, FGCU posted five runs in the seventh to tie the game. The inning started with a one-out single from Levine, who moved to third following back-to-back walks. With the bases loaded, Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) drew a walk to bring in the first run, again loading the bases for Hayes. The redshirt-junior cleared the bases with a double down the right-field line, cutting the deficit to 8-7.

Two batters later, Richie Garcia (Davie, Fla./West Broward HS) reached on an error that also allowed Hayes to score from second to tie the game.

Hering entered in the eighth and worked two clean innings, sending the game into the ninth tied 8-8. Morey led off the inning with a single and moved to third on a failed pickoff move and a sacrifice bunt. Following an intentional walk, the Eagles attempted a squeeze, only for Rutgers to make the play at the plate.

With runners at first and second, Gonzalez hit a 2-2 offering to short but the shortstop's throw went high sending Krzeminski, who was running for Gilmore, home to give the Green and Blue a 9-8 victory.

Hering (3-1) got the win, striking out two in 2.0 innings while issuing no walks. Lumbert worked 5.1 innings, allowing five earned runs while striking out five. Peyton Gray (Columbus, Ind./Columbus East HS/Gulf Coast State College) worked 1.2 to keep FGCU in the game. Gray struck out two while allowing two hits.

Hayes led FGCU from the plate with three hits while driving in three.

UP NEXT
The Eagles head to Miami to take on FIU Tuesday at 6:30 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 547-321-3 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.