JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A pinch-hit RBI single off the bat of Jake Smith was the difference as the #27 FGCU baseball team took game one of a three-game series against Jacksonville Friday afternoon. The Eagles (25-7, 3-1 ASUN) never trailed the Dolphins (22-13, 4-3 ASUN) but were forced to go to extras for the second time this season where Smith came through with a clutch single.

After the game, coaches and administration agreed to make tomorrow's contest a doubleheader with an increasing chance of rain on Sunday. Tomorrow's doubleheader will behind at 2 p.m. on ESPN3 with the second game airing on Facebook Live approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one.

"Earlier in the year we had a few games where we had to grind out wins," said head coach Dave Tollett. "We knew these games were going to be tough and those earlier games prepared us for this. I'm proud of the way the guys continued to fight. I thought Mario pitched good and kept us in a position to win and that was a great at-bat from Jake. For him to come off the bench like that and come through for us was huge."

FGCU remained atop the ASUN standings thanks to some timely hits capped by Smith's (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Prep) single in the 10th. The Eagles scored first to support Mario Leon (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS). JU would plate a run in the first as well, sending FGCU into the third leading 2-1. After the Dolphins tied the game in the third, FGCU took another brief lead in the seventh only for Jacksonville to respond again in the eighth. As the game went extra innings, Smith came through with runners at first and second and two outs to score Cameron Krzeminski (Coral Springs, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS), putting FGCU in front for good.

The Green and Blue started strong, putting runners at first and second with only one out thanks to back-to-back singles from Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS) and Richie Garcia (Davie, Fla./West Broward HS). Alex Brait (Viera, Fla./Viera HS) then stepped to the plate and hit a ground ball through the left side. Morey was sent but was cut down at home to keep the game scoreless. Following a double steal, Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, Fla./Lyman HS) crushed a 1-2 pitch to the wall in left, scoring both runners to put the Eagles in front 2-0.

A two-out single then cut the lead to 2-1 but Leon limited the damage to keep his club in front after one inning. Both pitchers then worked perfect second innings before JU tied the game in the third on a sacrifice fly.

Again both pitchers exchanged clean fourth innings before FGCU threatened in the fifth. The Eagles loaded the bases with two outs behind an error and two walks, but FGCU could not capitalize and the game moved to the sixth tied 2-2.

This time it was Jacksonville that put pressure on, putting runners at first and second with only one out but Leon forced a double play ball right back to him to end the inning.

FGCU again took a narrow lead in the seventh on a Morey single to right that brought in Eli Lovell (Lincoln, Neb./Lincoln Southwest HS/Kansas City Kansas Community College), who started the one-out rally with a single to center.

The lead was short-lived, however, as the Dolphins took advantage of a leadoff double to tie the game at 3-3 in the eighth. JU almost grabbed the lead for the first time, only for Christian Proffitt (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida Baker HS) to make a tremendous diving play up the middle before firing to first for the third out with the bases loaded.

After placing runners at first and second in the ninth, FGCU plated the winning run in the tenth. Kohl Gilmore (Fort Pierce, Fla./John Carroll HS/Indian River State) got the inning started with a one-out walk before being removed for Krzeminski. Eric Gonzalez (Miami, Fla./American Senior HS/ASA College) then walked and following a flyout, Smith dug in and drove the second pitch he saw to right field to bring in Krzeminski from second.

Kenton Hering (Melbourne, Fla./Viera HS/Eastern Florida State College), who was brought in with runners at first and second with two outs in the eighth, retired the final seven batters he faced after walking his first batter. Hering earned the win and improved to 5-2. Leon worked 7.0 innings, striking out five while allowing two runs on two hits. Trey Vickery (Port Orange, Fla./Spruce Creek HS) allowed a run on two hits over 0.2 innings.
 
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 557-323-3 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.