FORT MYERS, Fla. – After playing behind for the whole game, the FGCU baseball team (11-4) claimed a 9-8 victory over Quinnipiac (3-6) Saturday afternoon at Swanson Stadium. Freshman Joe Kinker (Northport, FL/Venice HS) hit a grand slam in the bottom of the eighth that boosted the Eagles to their victory. Tonight's triumph clinches the series for the Eagles, who have won all four of their weekend series so far this season. 

"By far our best comeback of the season," head coach Dave Tollett said. "We were down, we came back and we went back down. We finally came back with a grand slam by freshman Joe Kinker and it was unbelievable. These kids fought and they found a way to win. What a great 'come-from-behind' win for us. For us to do that twice in a row shows what type of team we have."

After dropping last night's game, the Bobcats started off today's matchup firing on all cylinders. In the top of the second, the visitors walked in two runs and drove in three on an RBI double to take an early 5-0 lead.

The Eagles struggled to come up with a response up until the bottom of the fifth inning. Sophomore Christian Proffitt (Cape Coral, FL/Ida Baker HS) brought in junior Marc Coffers (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS) with an RBI double for the Green and Blue's first run. Proffitt came around to score after junior Alex Brait (Viera, FL/Viera HS) reached on an error by Quinnipiac's shortstop.

Junior Richie Garcia (Davie, FL/West Broward HS), senior Keith Stevens (Miami, FL/Miami Killian HS/Hillsborough CC) and senior Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, FL/Lyman HS) all cranked out RBI singles to even the score between the teams at 5-5.

Quinnipiac took the lead once again in the bottom of the sixth. The Bobcats roped two RBI doubles that scored three runners to give the team an 8-5 lead. The Eagles called junior Sebastian Gruszecki out of the bullpen and he eventually ended the inning with a strikeout.

Junior Trey Vickery (Port Orange, FL/Spruce Creek HS) came in to pitch for the Eagles in the top of the eighth. Vickery recorded one strike out and gave up one walk before ending the inning with the score still at 8-5.

The final push for the Eagles' win came in the bottom of the eighth. Sophomore Brian Ellis (Oviedo, FL/Hagerty HS) came in as a pinch hitter and drew a walk to get on base. Eric Gonzalez (Miami, FL/American HS/ASA College) singled to left field and both he and Ellis advanced to second and third, respectively, on a passed ball to get in scoring position. Brait also got on base by drawing a four-ball walk. With three Eagles on, Kinker then blasted the ball over the left field wall for the grand slam that gave FGCU its first lead of the game, 9-8.

Junior Keegan Collett (Dallas, TX/Trinity Christian School/Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa) started off the ninth inning for the Green and Blue and recorded two outs before handing the mound over to junior Hunter McGarry (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian School/State College of Florida). Collett left two runners on base for McGarry to inherit. After walking his first batter, McGarry picked up his first save of the year when he took a Bobcat down swinging. Vickery earned his second win of the season.

This afternoon's win marked the first time this season that the Eagles have won a game when outhit by their opponents. FGCU finished the game with eight hits and Quinnipiac finished with 11. The eight hits tie for the fewest by the Green and Blue in a victory so far this season. Last night, FGCU was victorious in an eight-hit game, as well.

UP NEXT
The teams will face off one last time in the series finale tomorrow at noon at Swanson Stadium, where the Eagles will go for a series sweep. 

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 576-339-3 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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