FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (14-8, 1-2 ASUN) fell 14-8 in a rubber match against UNF (16-10, 2-1 ASUN) at the end of a back-and-forth battle Sunday afternoon at Harmon Stadium.

"We couldn't get a run in the first bit but we could pitch," said head coach Dave Tollett. "Then, we were getting runs but we couldn't pitch. It was two different games and we definitely weren't on the same page as a team. But it was a great game by Eusebio off the bench that was definitely a bright spot for today."

The Ospreys used a pair of RBI singles in the first and second frames to jump out to an early 2-0 lead. With the bases loaded in the third, UNF threatened to extend its lead once again. The Eagles' sophomore starter Nikolas Bitner (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast HS/Indian River) was relieved by junior Trey Vickery (Port Orange, FL/Spruce Creek HS), who was tasked with recording the final out of the inning. Vickery ended the frame by getting an Osprey batter to fly out to left field.

The Eagles were kept off the boards until the sixth inning. Junior Marc Coffers (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS) opened things up with a leadoff single and senior Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, FL/Lyman HS) snuck one up the middle to reach base. Junior Kohl Gilmore (Fort Pierce, FL/John Carroll HS/Indian River) plated Coffers with an RBI single that cut the Ospreys' lead in half, 2-1.

The next few innings saw a lot of back-and-forth scoring between the two teams. UNF extended its advantage to 6-1 with a pair of RBI singles in the bottom of the sixth. FGCU scored for its second-consecutive inning with a two-spot in the seventh. Senior Eric Gonzalez (Miami, FL/American HS/ASA College) doubled down the left field line to get things started and scored when junior Elijah Eusebio (Miami, FL/Coral Gables HS) smoked a ball over the left field fence. Eusebio's first career home run trimmed UNF's lead to 6-3.

The Ospreys responded with a solo shot of their own in the first at-bat of the frame, but it was not enough to keep the Eagles at bay. The Green and Blue's offense exploded in the eighth, allowing FGCU to take its first lead of the game. Eusebio cranked out his second home run of the afternoon, a grand slam that scored junior pinch-hitter Anthony Gonnella (Riverview, FL/Riverview HS/State College of Florida-Manatee), junior Richie Garcia (Davie, FL/West Broward HS) and Gilmore.

Prior to today's matchup, there had not been a single lead change all weekend. Eusebio's shot handed the Eagles an 8-7 advantage. His initial round-tripper was the first pinch-hit home run by an Eagle since April 25, 2017 (Corey Fehribach). He is also the second member of the team to crank two homers in a single game this season, joining Hayes.

UNF responded to FGCU's push with six hits and seven runs in the home half of the eighth to take the last lead of the series. Nine different pitchers made appearances for the Eagles and all but senior Justin Gill (Winter Haven, FL/Lake Region HS/Polk State) were charged with at least one run. Junior Hunter McGarry (2-1) (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian School/State College of Florida) was tagged with his first loss of the season after giving up three of the runs that gave the Ospreys their final lead.

This weekend marked the first series loss handed to the Eagles this season. The 20 hits tied for the sixth-most allowed in FGCU baseball history. The last time the Green and Blue gave up 20 hits was a 10-5 loss to UNF in April 2017. 

Eusebio's two home runs tie for the most hit by an Eagle in a single game. The last time an FGCU player cranked out two homers was Eric Gonzalez at Florida A&M last season.

UP NEXT
The Eagles will return to Swanson Stadium for the first game of a home-and-home midweek series against FIU (11-12, 2-4 C-USA). The teams will face off at 6:30 p.m. both Tuesday, March 26 and Wednesday, March 27. Wednesday's game will be at the FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami. The Panthers are coming off a 2-1 series loss to Western Kentucky.

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 579-345-3 overall record (.625) and a 184-103 (.641) record in the ASUN. 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 75 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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