FORT MYERS, Fla. – Looking to build momentum heading into ASUN action, the FGCU baseball team welcomes the UMBC Retrievers to Swanson Stadium for a three-game set beginning Friday at 6:30 p.m. Then, following a 2 p.m. first pitch Saturday, the Eagles and Retrievers wrap up the series Sunday a 1 p.m. 

PROMOTIONS 
Friday's contest has been deemed a Greenout and fans are encouraged to wear green. The Eagles also celebrate National Chip and Dip Day Friday, Chocolate Covered Raisin Day Saturday, and the Green and Blue will also have a waffle eating contest Sunday.

SERIES HISTORY
This weekend marks the first three meetings between the two programs.

PITCHING MATCHUP
Friday: RHP Mario Leon (2-1, 3.18 ERA) vs. RHP Max Goron (2-0, 5.59 ERA)
Saturday: LHP Josh Dye (3-1, 1.74 ERA) vs. RHP Nick Trabbachi (0-1, 5.82 ERA)
Sunday: TBA vs. RHP Mitchell Wilson (0-1, 6.75 ERA)
 
UNIQUE CONNECTION
Apart from playing each other on the diamond this weekend, the Eagles and Retrievers share a rare story on the hardwood -- both schools have made a name as Cinderella in March. Five years ago, Dunk City was born when FGCU defeated Georgetown and two days later the Eagles defeated San Diego State, becoming the first and only 15 seed to earn a spot in the Sweet Sixteen.

Last weekend, UMBC made history, taking down the top-seeded Virginia Cavaliers, thus becoming the first-ever 16 seed to upset a No. 1 seed in the history of the NCAA Tournament.
 
SCOUTING THE RETRIEVERS
UMBC enters the weekend 5-10 after a pair of snowed-out contests earlier in the week. Matt Campbell and Matt Shatto are both hitting above .250 this season to lead UMBC. Meanwhile, AJ Wright has driven in nine runs and Zack Bright has added seven more.

Friday night's starter Max Goron will make his first start of his career. The freshman only has 9.2 innings under his belt with a 5.59 ERA, striking out eight against six walks. Nick Trabacchi is slated to start game two and brings a 0-1 record and a 5.82 ERA with 10 strikeouts. Sunday's starter Mitchell Wilson makes his fourth start of the season and enters with a 6.75 ERA.

CHAMPS 5X
2017 was a magical season for the Green and Blue that ended in the program's first Division I NCAA Tournament berth. The Eagles ended the year 43-20, which included a midweek sweep over #2 Florida, single wins over #1 Florida State, Miami, and a three-game sweep at RV UNC Wilmington. The wins over Miami, FSU, and UF marked the first time FGCU defeated all three programs in the same season.
 
Reaching as high as #9 in the polls, the highest of any program at FGCU, the Eagles struggled in April but bounced back to finish third in the ASUN. During the ASUN Tournament, FGCU won four games in a span of 29 hours for their first tournament crown.
 
The Green and Blue earned the No. 2 seed in the Chapel Hill Regional, defeating Michigan 10-6 before losses to Davidson and UNC ended their season.
The tournament title adds to FGCU's four regular season titles.
 
KENTON, WITH A K
Redshirt-senior Kenton Hering's second season wearing Green and Blue put him among elite company with other arms that have come through Fort Myers. With 77 strikeouts in 59.2 innings IN 2017, Hering brought his K/9 inning total to 10.61, good for third all-time at FGCU behind current Minnesota Twins product Brandon Bixler (10.91; FGCU  2011-13) and six-time MLB All-Star Chris Sale (11.53; 2008-10).
 
Hering's seven saves last season also put him seventh all-time in FGCU history while his opponent's batting average of .222 is good for fifth.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The Eagles took advantage of 10 walks in a 13-6 victory over FIU. The Green and Blue led 11-0 before the Panthers scored three runs in the fourth. The bullpen went to work from there, limiting FIU and the rest of the way for the victory.

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 548-321-3 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.