FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (13-6) dropped its series finale to Rutgers (5-11) in a 4-1 loss Sunday afternoon at Swanson Stadium. Despite today's finish, the Eagles still claimed the series after winning both Friday and Saturday's matchups.

"We put our offense in the hole early, but we still had several chances," head coach Dave Tollett said. "I thought we could've come back but we left the bases loaded and left runners on and you can't win a lot of ball games like that. We gave a lot of easy outs. We had nine strikeouts and 13 fly balls, so they only had to play for five outs all day long."

Senior Justin Gill (Winter Haven, FL/Lake Region HS/Polk State) made his first start of the season for FGCU. The southpaw was retired after giving up back-to-back home runs in the top of the second. The Scarlet Knights, who had struggled to score against the Green and Blue entering today's game, put up four runs in their first two innings.

Sophomore Gus Carter (Melbourne, FL/Eau Gallie HS/Florida Southwestern) came in to toss the next frame for the Eagles. Carter allowed just one hit and one walk in his inning of work.

FGCU put up its only run of the day in the bottom of the third. Junior Alex Brait (Viera, FL/Viera HS) started off the inning with a double to right field. Freshman Joe Kinker (Northport, FL/Venice HS) followed up with an RBI single that scored Brait and cut the visitors' lead down to 4-1.

Sophomore Nikolas Bitner (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast HS/Indian River) hurled six scoreless innings of quality relief for the Green and Blue. He struck out a career-high six batters, walked one and gave up just four hits in one of his strongest appearances as an Eagle thus far.

Bitner remained in the game until the top of the ninth when Rutgers' Carmen Sclafani got on base with a leadoff single. Junior Hunter McGarry (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian School/State College of Florida) came in to record the last three outs of the game, doing so with three groundouts.

The Eagles had multiple chances to score down the stretch but were unable to capitalize. In the bottom of the ninth, Rutgers brought out Serafino Brito as a new arm. FGCU managed to get the bases loaded with no outs but was unable to score.

Rutgers' Tommy Genuario was awarded his first win of the season and Brito picked up his first save for keeping the Eagles from scoring. Gill (0-2) took the loss after giving up all four runs for the Scarlet Knights.

Brait, Kinker and junior Kohl Gilmore (Fort Pierce, FL/John Carroll HS/Indian River) all finished the day with two hits apiece. Senior Eric Gonzalez (Miami, FL/American HS/ASA College), senior Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, FL/Lyman HS), sophomore Christian Proffitt (Cape Coral, FL/Ida Baker HS) and junior pinch hitter Elijah Eusebio (Miami, FL/Coral Gables HS) each tallied one hit for the Green and Blue.

UP NEXT
The Eagles will return to Swanson Stadium on Tuesday, March 19 to take on in-state rival FAU. The game against the Owls is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. under the lights. The Owls (14-7) are currently on an eight-game winning streak.

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 578-343-3 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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