FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (22-11, 4-2 ASUN) fell to Miami (22-12, 7-8 ACC) 10-1 at Swanson Stadium Wednesday night.

"Tonight, Miami threw one of the better arms that we've seen all season," head coach Dave Tollett said. "He was really good and he threw well consistently. But midweeks in this state are always competitive, if not the toughest in the country. Everyone here is good."

Senior Justin Gill (0-3) (Winter Haven, FL/Lake Region HS/Polk State) started on the bump for the Eagles and threw a season-high 6.0 innings. The southpaw struck out six batters, including an effort where he struck out the side in the second inning, and gave up zero walks.

The Hurricanes first got on the board with an RBI single and a two-run homer in the top of the third that put the team up 3-0. Miami tacked onto its advantage with another home run in the top of the fifth, making it a 4-0 ballgame.

The Eagles struggled to get a hit on offense and relied on the pitching to keep them in the game. Junior Sebastian Gruszecki (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional HS) started off the seventh inning for the home team and gave up six runs that handed the Hurricanes a 10-0 edge. Sophomore Nikolas Bitner (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast HS/Indian River) was called out from the bullpen to finish the frame, eventually doing so with a strikeout.

Senior Eric Gonzalez (Miami, FL/American HS/ASA College) cranked out the first hit of the night for the Green and Blue with a two-out double down the right field line in the seventh, but the team couldn't bring him home as a swinging K ended the frame.

Freshman Cody Woodring (Lakeland, FL/McKeel Academy of Technology) tossed the eighth inning for FGCU, giving up just one hit and one walk to the five batters that he faced.

Junior Hunter McGarry (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian School/State College of Florida) threw the closing frame for the Eagles. He walked one and recorded a strikeout before ending the Hurricane's night offensively. In the bottom of the ninth inning, junior Cameron Krzeminski (Coral Springs, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas HS) came in as a pinch hitter and reached with a single to third base for the team's second hit of the night. Sophomore Christian Proffitt (Cape Coral, FL/Ida Baker HS), who had entered the game at shortstop, followed up with an RBI double that scored Krzeminski and prevented Miami from finishing with a shutout.

Up Next
The Eagles will hit the road for some ASUN Conference action against Kennesaw State (16-18, 3-3 ASUN) April 12-14. First pitch on Friday is slated for 6 p.m. at Stillwell Baseball Stadium. The teams will face off at 2 p.m. on Saturday before wrapping up the series at 1 p.m. on Sunday. The first game of the weekend will mark the 40th meeting between the two teams. FGCU currently leads the series 25-14 and won two-of-three at Swanson Stadium last season.

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.con/FGCUBaseball. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.

COACH TOLLETT
FGCU coach Dave Tollett currently owns a 587-348-3 overall record (.628) and a 187-103 (.644) 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 35 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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