FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (8-3) dropped the first of today's two games 2-1 but dominated the second 18-8 to capture the weekend series against Siena (3-7) Saturday afternoon at Swanson Stadium.
It was a tale of two games today for the Green and Blue. The Eagles had great pitching in the first game, but struggled from the batter's box.
Mason Studstill (Titusville, FL/Rockledge HS/Eastern Florida State) pitched a quality start with one run on two hits and struck out 10 through six innings of work, finishing with a no decision.
Richie Garcia (Davie, FL/West Broward HS) was the only Eagle to cross home plate in the first game, scoring on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second. The Saints got on the board with a homer by Matt Hamel that was sent over the right field wall. Craig Corliss scored the winning run for the visitors when he singled to left field, bringing in Evan St. Claire.
The first game was the Green and Blue's second-lowest offensive showing so far this season. The only time the Eagles finished with less than one run was when they got shutout during a midweek series against Ohio State.
"It's tough to play two games in one day. But we try to do it because if we get to the conference tournament we might end up having to play a doubleheader," head coach
Dave Tollett said. "We pitched well in game one and in the second game we swung the bats all over the park. It was like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Overall, it was a pretty good weekend for us and we'll take tomorrow off to get ready for next week."
The second game of the day was a completely different ballgame for FGCU.
Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, FL/Lyman HS) was the first to put the Eagles in the run column when he brought in
Eric Gonzalez (Miami, FL/American HS/ASA College) on an RBI single.
Both teams went back-and-forth through the first innings of play. Heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Eagles and the Saints were knotted up at six until
Kohl Gilmore (Fort Pierce, FL/John Carroll HS/Indian River) crushed a ball out of the park with the bases loaded. The Saints responded with a two-shot homer of their own off the bat of Matt Hamel in the top of the fifth. The two runs were their last of the day.
Gilmore, Garcia and Hayes finished the second game with three hits apiece, combining for nine RBIs overall. Both
Jalen Townsend (Oviedo, FL/Winter Park HS) and
Brian Ellis (Oviedo, FL/Hagerty HS) recorded the first hits of their collegiate careers and scored for the Eagles. Townsend also led the team with two stolen bases that came on back-to-back pitches.
Keith Stevens (Miami, FL/Miami Killian HS/Hillsborough CC),
Alex Brait (Viera, FL/Viera HS),
Joe Kinker (Northport, FL/Venice HS) and Gonzalez also sprinkled in hits for the Eagles.
Brenden Heiss (Algonquin, IL/Jacob HS/John A. Logan/Arkansas) started the game for the Green and Blue, but only made it through two innings.
Trey Vickery (Port Orange, FL/Spruce Creek HS) was the first reliever out of the bullpen and pitched one full inning before being retired by
Gus Carter (Melbourne, FL/Eau Gallie HS/Florida Southwestern), who finished the day with his first win as an Eagle.
Chris Seymour (Boynton Beach, FL/Park Vista HS) and
Hunter McGarry (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian School/State College of Florida) also made pitching appearances for the Green and Blue before the game ended in the seventh inning due to the ten-run rule.
The second game's 18 runs are the second-most generated by the Eagles offense so far this season. The only other time the Green and Blue scored more was during a 23-3 victory over Bethune-Cookman on Feb. 16. As of tonight, FGCU ranks 14th in the nation in scoring, averaging 9.4 runs per game.
UP NEXT
The Eagles will hit the road for the first time this season, heading to Gainesville to take on No. 3 Florida for a two-day midweek series. Both games on Tuesday, March 5 and Wednesday, March 6 are scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. start time. Both games will be streamed on the SEC Network +.
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 573-340-3 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.
-- FGCUATHLETICS.COM --
