FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (2-2) dropped a close 2-0 battle to Big Ten power Ohio State (4-0) Monday night at Swanson Stadium.
 
The Eagles played in front of 1,109 fans, which marked the third-highest home total for the Green and Blue against an opponent outside the state of Florida during the NCAA Division I era (since 2008).
 
"Tonight was a pitching duel. I thought (Evan) Lumbert was really good," FGCU coach Dave Tollett said. "We just couldn't get a big hit to get us going. Sometimes in a game like this a big hit can be contagious. Credit to Ohio State. They kept us off-balance. They threw a lot of 3-1 breaking balls in some big counts."
 
Senior Keith Stevens (Miami, FL/Miami Killian Senior HS/Hillsborough CC) finished with two of FGCU's three hits on the evening. He also drew a nine-pitch walk in the ninth that quite nearly started a rally for the Green and Blue. The other hit was roped by junior Kohl Gilmore (Fort Pierce, FL/John Carroll HS/Indian River State) in the bottom of the ninth. His two-out infield single was followed by Stevens' walk, but the Buckeyes were able to get out of the jam and hold on for the win.
 
Senior Evan Lumbert (Orlando, FL/Boone HS/South Florida State) (0-1) took a hard-luck loss after allowing just one run on four hits across 5.0 innings. He struck out five batters. Junior Sebastian Gruszecki (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional HS), sophomore Gus Carter (Melbourne, FL/Eau Gallie HS/Florida Southwestern State) and junior Hunter McGarry (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian/State College of Florida-Manatee) combined to shut down the Buckeyes in the final 3.2 frames. They allowed no runs on just here hits, while striking out three and walking just one.
 
The two runs were both scored by Brady Cherry. He went 3-for-3 with a solo home run in the second. He scored again in the sixth after singling and coming around thanks to an RBI single from Noah West. Nate Romans also finished 3-for-3 for the Buckeyes.
 
Griffan Smith (1-0) earned the win after throwing 5.0 shutout innings that included seven strikeouts, no walks and one hit conceded. Andrew Magno collected his first save of the year after tossing the ninth. He struck out one, but he also issued a walk and a hit. Bayden Root bridged the 3.0-inning gap between Smith and Magno and fanned five, while allowing one hit and one walk.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles continue their start to the season that includes 11-consecutive home games. They will play host to a new opponent in LIU Brooklyn Feb. 22-24 at Swanson Stadium. The first game will be contested at 6:30 p.m. Friday, with first pitch for Saturday's clash slated for 11 a.m. Sunday's series finale will begin at 1 p.m.
 
The Blackbirds (0-3) are off to a slow start this season, but they won the Northeast Conference Championship last year and advanced to an NCAA Championship Regional. The weekend games will be the first in school history between the two programs.
 
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.
 
COACH TOLLETT
FGCU coach Dave Tollett currently owns a 567-339-3 record. He is the only head coach in the program's history and led the program to its first trip to the NCAA Tournament in 2017. 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 No. 9 in the country in 2017, and has coached 54 all-conference selections, 31 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 seven-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.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 73 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 34 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the Spring, 2018 and had an ASUN Conference and State of Florida best five teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport.  The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
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