FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (15-8, 1-2 ASUN) shut out in-state rival FIU (11-13, 2-4 C-USA) 3-0 in the first game of a home-and-home series Tuesday night at Swanson Stadium.

"I was really excited to see how the program came back tonight after a tough conference loss on Sunday," head coach Dave Tollett said. "Tyler Shuck was really, really good tonight in a time where we need to find a third or fourth starter. He's definitely earned that. Our upperclassmen stepped up tonight, too. Gilmore had a big RBI for us, Richie had two hits and Brait had two hits. They're our guys. We've been patient, they've been patient, but they are starting to heat up."

Three different pitchers made appearances in tonight's shutout. Sophomore Tyler Shuck (4-0) (Cape Coral, FL/Canterbury HS) started on the bump for the Green and Blue and earned his fourth win of the season. Through six innings of work, he allowed one hit, one walk and faced just one batter over the minimum. Shuck matched his career high with six strikeouts, four of which were back-to-back.

After giving up his second hit of the night, Shuck was relieved by junior Sebastian Gruszecki (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional HS) who tossed the next 1.1 frames. Gruszecki entered the game with a runner on third, but struck out a Panther to end the inning. He faced five batters and recorded two Ks before handing the mound over to junior Hunter McGarry (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian School/State College of Florida). McGarry recorded the final three outs of the game and picked up his third save of the season.

FGCU outhit its opponent, 7-2. Juniors Alex Brait (Viera, FL/Viera HS) and Richie Garcia (Davie, FL/West Broward HS) led the Green and Blue with two hits apiece. Juniors Marc Coffers (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS) and Kohl Gilmore (Fort Pierce, FL/John Carroll HS/Indian River), as well as senior Keith Stevens (Miami, FL/Miami Killian HS/Hillsborough CC) each tacked on one hit.

Coffers recorded his first run of the night when he was plated on a groundout by Gilmore in the first inning. Senior Eric Gonzalez (Miami, FL/American HS/ASA College) was brought in by Brait in the fourth inning, giving the Green and Blue a 2-0 edge. Coffers scored again two plays later and awarded FGCU with its final 3-0 lead.

Tonight's game marks the fourth time this season that the Eagles have held an opponent to two hits or fewer. In the past four years combined, the team has only achieved this feat three times.

UP NEXT
The Eagles will cross Alligator Alley tomorrow to take on the Panthers at their home stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in Miami.

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 580-345-3 overall record (.627) 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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