FORT MYERS, Fla. – With three weekends remaining in the regular season, the FGCU baseball team begins its final push for a sixth ASUN title and first regular season crown since 2014. The first of the three final conference matchups features the Eagles (31-12, 7-5 ASUN) and the UNF Ospreys (19-23, 4-8 ASUN).
 
The three-game series begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. and continues Saturday at 2 p.m. The finale is slated for a 1 p.m. first pitch Sunday.
 
PROMOTIONS
FGCU fans can celebrate Star Wars Night Friday on May the Fourth. Fans can also wear green as part of a Greenout.
 
Saturday is National Comic Book Day as well as Cinco de Mayo.
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU looks to avenge a sweep during the regular season last year. Despite holding a 22-15 record all-time against the Ospreys, UNF has had the upper hand recently. UNF has won eight of the last 11 matchups against the Eagles with two of FGCU's wins coming in the ASUN Tournament, one in each of the last two years.
 
PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: RHP Mario Leon (5-3, 2.71 ERA) vs. RHP Frank German (5-2, 1.27 ERA)
Saturday: LHP Josh Dye (7-2, 2.52 ERA) vs. LHP Austin Drury (3-2, 4.78 ERA)
Sunday: LHP Justin Gill (1-0, 2.11 ERA) vs. TBA
 
LIGHTS OUT
Since FGCU lost to USC Upstate on April 20, FGCU pitching has been nearly unhittable. Over the last seven games, the Eagles have posted a 1.29 ERA, not allowing more than two earned runs in a single game.
 
Helped along by Josh Dye's (DeLand, Fla./DeLand HS) complete game shutout on April 28, FGCU pitching has silenced opponents bats to help the Green and Blue post a 6-1 record over the last seven games.
 
While the staff as a whole has been stellar, the starting pitching has stolen show. Over his last 16.0 innings, Dye has allowed only nine hits while not surrendering a run. Evan Lumbert (Orlando, Fla./Boone HS/ South Florida State) has posted a 0.71 ERA over his last 12.2 innings, conceding just one earned run. Justin Gill (Winter Haven, Fla./Lake Region HS/Polk State) meanwhile has allowed one earned over his last 13.0 innings while Mario Leon (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS) has limited opponents to one earned over his last 7.1 innings.
 
Gill's numbers continue to impress when looking at conference play. The junior is 1-0 with a 0.76 ERA over 23.2 innings against ASUN foes.
 
FIELD OF 64
Baseball America revealed its latest projected Field of 64 for the upcoming NCAA Tournament. The ASUN currently features two teams (Stetson and Jacksonville) with FGCU part of the First Four Out. Both Stetson and Jacksonville have RPIs in the Top 20 (14 and 19, respectively) while FGCU jumped three spots to 34 following last night's win over FIU.
 
SCOUTING THE OSPREYS
UNF enters the weekend 19-23 and 4-8 in the ASUN. The Ospreys boast Tanner Murphy, who leads the ASUN with a .361 average while collecting 10 doubles and 10 home runs. Dalton Board comes to Fort Myers hitting .346 while Blake Voyles is batting .310.
 
On the mound, Frank German carries the league's best ERA into the weekend. German has struck out 75 batters while allowing only nine earned runs in 63.2 innings for a 1.27 ERA. Saturday's starter, Austin Drury carries a 4.78 ERA into the weekend.
 
THE ROAD AHEAD
FGCU's path to a regular season title only gets more difficult. The ASUN currently ranks seventh among all conferences in terms of RPI. In addition, the ASUN trails only the American Athletic Conference in terms of mid-major rankings.
 
The Eagles currently sit fourth in the ASUN, two games out of first place and a game behind Jacksonville who sits in second. FGCU dropped two of three to the Dolphins and will face conference leaders Stetson May 11-13 in Fort Myers.
 
2018 ASUN STANDINGS

	CONFERENCE			OVERALL
Team	Record	Win %	GB	Record	Win %
#30 Stetson	9-3	.750	-	35-11	.761
Kennesaw State	10-5	.667	.5	24-20	.545
Jacksonville	8-4	.667	1	31-14	.689
FGCU	7-5	.583	2	31-12	.721
Lipscomb	6-9	.400	4.5	18-24	.429
UNF	4-8	.333	5	19-23	.452
NJIT	5-10	.333	5.5	18-19	.486
USC Upstate	5-10	.333	5.5	22-24-1	.479

 
LEADING THE CHARGE
A Freshman All-American last season, Richie Garcia (Davie, Fla./West Broward HS) has headlined the potent offense in 2018. The Davie-native leads FGCU with a .353 average and an ASUN-best 47 RBI. Garcia has also tallied 15 doubles.
 
Since the start of conference play, Alex Brait (Viera, Fla./Viera HS) has hit a team-best .352 with one double, one home run, and seven driven in. Now in 2018, Brait sits second on the team with a .336 average, with four doubles, two triples, and three home runs to go along with his 22 RBI.
 
On the mound, Kenton Hering (Melbourne, Fla./Viera HS/Eastern Florida State College) has six wins and eight saves to lead the bullpen. Hering now has 15 in his career, good for second all-time in program history, trailing only Sterling Koerner (19). 

LOOK AT THE BOOKS
FGCU Career Records
Runs Scored

Rank	Name	Runs	Years
1.	Josh Upchurch	237	2006-09
2.	Mikel Alvarez	202	2008-11
3.	Nick Rivera	179	2013-17
4.	Stephen Wickens	178	2008-11
5.	Zach Maxfield	158	2009-11
6.	Tim Roberson	156	2008-11
7.	Jake Noll	151	2013-16
8.	Gage Morey	145	2014-Present
9.	Tyler Selesky	137	2013-16
10.	Chris Perry	134	2003-06

 
Hits

Rank	Name	Hit	Years
1.	Mikel Alvarez	316	2008-11
2.	Josh Upchurch	311	2006-09
3.	Nick Rivera	284	2013-17
4.	Jake Noll	267	2013-16
5.	Stephen Wickens	259	2008-11
6.	Tim Roberson	247	2008-11
7.	Zach Maxfield	241	2009-11
8.	Gage Morey	222	2014-Present
9.	Tyler Selesky	210	2013-16
10.	Brandon Bednar	206	2011-13
	Matt Reardon	206	2015-17

 
Saves

Rank	Name	Saves	Years
1.	Sterling Koerner	19	2014-17
2.	Kenton Hering	15	2016-Presnt
3.	JJ Crumbley	14	2005-08
4.	Brady Anderson	11	2012-16
5.	Garrett Anderson	9	2014-17
	Harrison Cooney	9	2011-13
	Jack Wagoner	9	2010-11
8.	Derek Shaw	6	2007-09
	Casey Coleman	6	2006-08
10.	Zach Tillery	5	2012-14
	Jason Forjet	5	2009-12
	Jacob Barnes	5	2009-11
	Chris Sale	5	2008-10
	Pete Woodworth	5	2007-10

 
Season Records
Stolen Bases

Rank	Name	Stolen Bases	Year
1.	Jake Noll	25	2014
2.	Josh Upchurch	20	2008
	Marc Coffers	20	2018
4.	Stephen Wickens	18	2010
5.	Josh Upchurch	15	2007
	Chris Brown	15	2003
	Jake Noll	15	2015
	Josh Upchurch	15	2006
9.	Gage Morey	14	2014
10.	Chris Brown	12	2004
	Pat Stubbe	12	2005

 
Saves

Rank	Name	Saves	Year
1.	Sterling Koerner	12	2017
2.	Jack Wagoner	9	2010
3.	Kenton Hering	8	2018
4.	Kenton Hering	7	2017
	Brady Anderson	7	2014
6.	Derek Shaw	6	2009
	Casey Coleman	6	2006
8.	Zach Tillery	5	2014
	JJ Crumbley	5	2008
	Harrison Cooney	5	2013

 
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.
 
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 564-328-3 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.