FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (19-9, 1-2 ASUN) fell 15-4 to USF (13-14, 1-5 American) Tuesday night in Tampa.

"The third inning was the telling point of the game," head coach Dave Tollett said. "Instead of getting out with just one run, we gave up seven."

The Eagles managed to get the bases loaded right away. Senior Marc Coffers (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS) and junior Alex Brait (Viera, FL/Viera HS) cranked out back-to-back hits and senior Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, FL/Lyman HS) drew a walk. Freshman Joe Kinker (Northport, FL/Venice HS) reached on an error, giving FGCU its first run of the game. This was the fourth consecutive game that FGCU scored in its opening frame.

The Bulls responded to the Green and Blue's early push by getting two runs across the plate to take a 2-1 edge.

Brait and Hayes regained FGCU's lead with back-to-back RBIs in the second, but it was the team's last advantage of the night.

Junior Trey Vickery (Port Orange, FL/Spruce Creek HS) started on the bump for the Green and Blue. After two innings, he was retired for the night and tagged with his first loss of the season.

USF used an eight-spot in the bottom of the third to blow up its lead. Four different pitchers made appearances for the Green and Blue in the inning with three of the runs being charged to Vickery. The other five were unearned due to a fielding error.

The Eagles had a solid chance to score in the fifth inning when they managed to get the bases loaded, but the team could not capitalize on the opportunity.

The Bulls tacked on to their lead in the bottom of the sixth, putting up three runs that extended their lead to 13-3.

Junior Brenden Heiss (Algonquin, IL/Jacob HS/John A. Logan/Arkansas) pitched the final two frames for the Green and Blue. He struck out three, gave up two hits and was charged with two earned runs that gave the Bulls their final 15-3 lead.

The 12 hits are the second-most in a loss for the Eagles this season. FGCU cranked out 14 in a 15-0 midweek loss at No. 5 Florida back in March. Both teams left 13 runners stranded on base.

Up Next
FGCU will take on Lipscomb (13-12, 2-3 ASUN) in an ASUN Conference matchup next weekend at Swanson Stadium. It will be the Eagles' first conference series that they have hosted so far this season. The Green and Blue currently hold a 22-18 advantage in the series, including a 12-6 mark at Swanson. Last year, the Eagles dropped two of three at Lipscomb's Dugan Field. Prior to that series, they had won seven games straight.
 
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 584-346-3 overall record (.628) 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 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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