FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (11-5) dropped a 9-4 decision to Quinnipiac (4-6) Sunday afternoon at Swanson Stadium. Though they did not earn the win today, the Eagles claimed the overall series after winning both Friday and Saturday's matchups.

"We have to pitch better on Sunday, we gave up too many hits," head coach Dave Tollett said. "It was not a very good day for us on the mound. We had two errors and two walks and a hit-by-pitch. We left 17 runners on base, so it just wasn't a good day for us all around. We'll take the day off tomorrow and then regroup to get ready for the next one against a good Rutgers program."

The Bobcats were aggressive from the start of the game. The visitors brought one run in during the first inning off an RBI single. With the bases loaded in the second and just one out on the board, the Eagles were forced to pull their starter, sophomore Nikolas Bitner (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast HS/Indian River), who was eventually tagged with the loss.

Senior Justin Gill (Winter Haven, FL/Lake Region HS/Polk State) took over the mound from Bitner. Both of the inherited runners scored, giving Quinnipiac an early 3-0 lead.

The Bobcats started the third inning with a home run by Samuel LaChance that extended their lead to 4-0.

Hayes recorded the first hit of the game for the home team in the bottom of the third with a single to right center that put freshman Joe Kinker (Northport, FL/Venice HS), who had drawn a walk, on third. Senior Keith Stevens (Miami, FL/Miami Killian HS/Hillsborough CC) reached after being hit by a pitch and the Eagles had a chance to score with the bases loaded, but could not capitalize on it.  

Quinnipiac tacked onto their lead in the top of the fifth with an RBI single that brought in both Colton Bender and LaChance, who had reached on a fielding error. Down 6-0, the Eagles went to their bullpen again and brought out senior Keegan Collett (Dallas, TX/Trinity Christian School/Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa).

Hayes finally got the home team on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a two-shot homer to right center field that brought in Kinker. Quinnipiac was forced to call Andrew Workman from its bullpen after Stevens crossed home on a wild pitch that cut the lead down 6-3.

After issuing back-to-back walks, Collett was retired by junior Sebastian Gruszecki in the top of the sixth. One of Collett's runners scored on a sacrifice fly that put the Bobcats up 7-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, Hayes drove in another RBI for the Eagles. His single through the left side brought in junior Alex Brait (Viera, FL/Viera HS), who had drawn a walk.

After allowing two on in the top of the ninth, Gruszecki was retired by sophomore lefty Gus Carter (Melbourne, FL/Eau Gallie HS/Florida Southwestern). Carter faced one batter before being replaced by junior Trey Vickery (Port Orange, FL/Spruce Creek HS). Both of Gruszecki's runners, as well as Carter's singular runner, scored for Quinnipiac and sealed the victory. The Eagles managed to get the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn't finish.

Hayes led the team with three hits and three RBIs. Kinker finished the day with three hits, as well. Brait, junior Elijah Eusebio (Miami, FL/Coral Gables HS) and senior Eric Gonzalez (Miami, FL/American HS/ASA College) each tallied one hit for the home team.

Despite losing today, the Eagles have started their season by winning all four of their weekend series.

UP NEXT
The Eagles are off until next weekend when they take on Big 10 foe Rutgers (3-9) March 15-17. First pitch of the series is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Friday. The teams will play again at 2 p.m. on Saturday before the series finale at 11 a.m. on Sunday. Rutgers is the second Big 10 opponent that the Eagles have on their non-conference slate this year. The Green and Blue dropped a midweek game 2-0 against Big 10 competitor Ohio State on Feb. 18.

WE'VE GOT YOUR SEAT
Experience FGCU Baseball and Softball this season. The following ticket opportunities are on sale now:
Group Sales
Bring your group of 15 or more to an FGCU Baseball or Softball game. All group tickets include your choice of concessions or an FGCU hat ($15 value), in-game group recognition and more. For more information on group outings, click HERE or call 239-590-7145.
Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets are available for all remaining home games. Adult tickets are $7 each. Discounted tickets are available for current or former Military and Youth ages 3-15 for just $5 each. Baseball and Softball Frequent Flyer Cards allow multiple entries for more than 50 percent off the adult rate. Choose 34 baseball entries for $105 or 17 softball entries for $55. Purchase online HERE or call 239-590-7145.
 
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 576-340-3 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.
 
5X CHAMPS
The 2017 season was a magical one for the Green and Blue that ended in the program's first Division I NCAA Championship tournament berth. The Eagles ended the year 43-20, which included a midweek sweep over No. 2 Florida, single wins over No. 1 Florida State, Miami, and a three-game sweep at 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 No. 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 Championship, 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 North Carolina ended their season. The tournament title added to FGCU's four regular season crowns.
 
#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 74 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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