KENNESAW, Ga. – The FGCU baseball team (23-11, 5-2 ASUN) picked up an 8-4 Friday night win over Kennesaw State (16-19, 3-4 ASUN) at Stillwell Stadium.

"Tonight we had another great start by Studstill," head coach Dave Tollett said. "I thought we played solid all the way around. It was a good Friday night win with some key hits and a pair of home runs. We ran the bases well and played good defense. It was nice to see Richie have three hits, Eusebio have a big hit to open the game up a little bit and Coffers have some great hits in the leadoff spot."

Both teams got on the board early, as the Eagles and the Owls tallied a run apiece in the first frame. Senior Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, FL/Lyman HS) plated classmate Marc Coffers (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS) with an RBI groundout for the Green and Blue's first run of the night. KSU responded with an RBI single of its own to even things up at 1-1.

Junior Richie Garcia (Davie, FL/West Broward HS) regained FGCU's lead with a solo shot to right center in the top of the second. The homer was his third of the season.

Junior Mason Studstill (5-0) (Titusville, FL/Rockledge HS/Eastern Florida State) started on the hill for the Eagles and, aside from the one early run, kept Kennesaw State off the board for 7.0 innings of work, earning his fifth win of the season. He finished the night with eight strikeouts, while conceding three walks and five hits.

While Studstill kept the Owl offense away from home plate, senior Eric Gonzalez (Miami, FL/American HS/ASA College) tacked on three insurance runs for the Green and Blue. In the fourth inning, he launched his fourth home run of the season when he sent a two-run shot out to left field. Freshman Joe Kinker (Northport, FL/Venice HS) scored on the play. The senior was credited with another RBI in the top of the sixth when he snuck a single through the right side that plated Garcia.

KSU capitalized on the FGCU pitching changes in the eighth and made it a two-run ball game. Juniors Sebastian Gruszecki (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional HS) and Hunter McGarry (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian School/State College of Florida) each threw for the Eagles in the frame. Kennesaw State cranked out four singles and managed to get the tying run as far as second base, but the inning ended before the team could score again.

The Eagles put the game out of reach with a three-spot in the top of the ninth. Freshman Jalen Townsend (Oviedo, FL/Winter Park HS), who entered the game as a pinch runner, stole two bases before scoring on a wild pitch to give the team a 6-3 lead. Junior Elijah Eusebio (Miami, FL/Coral Gables HS) was credited with a pair of runs after he doubled to left field, scoring Hayes and junior Alex Brait (Viera, FL/Viera HS).  

Freshman Chris Seymour (Boynton Beach, FL/Park Vista HS) and sophomore Nikolas Bitner (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast HS/Indian River) teamed up to record the final three outs of the night. Seymour recorded the first and, after allowing two runners to reach, was relieved by Bitner. Bitner took an Owl down swinging before he was charged with a balk, giving Kennesaw its final run of the game. The sophomore closed things out with a flyout to Coffers in center field.

Garcia finished the night with a team-high three hits, just ahead of Coffers and Gonzalez who each added a pair. Brait, Hayes, Eusebio, senior Keith Stevens (Miami, FL/Miami Killian HS/Hillsborough CC) and junior Anthony Gonnella (Riverview, FL/Riverview HS/State College of Florida-Manatee) added one apiece in the Eagles' well-balanced attack.

Up Next
Originally, the Eagles and the Owls were scheduled to play on Saturday at 2 p.m. and at 1 p.m. on Sunday, but the teams will face off in a doubleheader tomorrow instead. The first game will still be played at 2 p.m. and the series finale will follow 30 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.

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 588-348-3 overall record (.628) and a 188-103 (.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 76 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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