FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU baseball team (27-13, 9-3 ASUN) swept Jacksonville (21-19, 7-8 ASUN) after winning both games of Saturday's doubleheader by scores of 3-1 and 2-1 at Swanson Stadium.

"Both of these wins today were absolutely awesome," head coach Dave Tollett said. "Jacksonville is a very good team and, on paper, we are very equal across the board. It could've gone either way, but we're happy to close out this weekend with a sweep."

FGCU 3, JU 1
The Dolphins battled against junior Eagle starter Mason Studstill (Titusville, FL/Rockledge HS/Eastern Florida State) from the first at-bat of the game, getting two baserunners on in the opening frame. Studstill managed to get out of that jam, but Jacksonville was able to push a runner across after a fielding error in the bottom of the second to take an early 1-0 lead.

It took the Green and Blue a few innings to figure out the Dolphins' starting arm, but junior Kohl Gilmore (Fort Pierce, FL/John Carroll HS/Indian River) eventually cranked out the first hit of the day when he singled up the middle in the bottom of the third. The team was unable to advance him farther than first base before the frame ended.

Jacksonville loaded the bases in the top of the fifth. With two outs on the board, FGCU recalled sophomore Nikolas Bitner (2-2) (Palm Coast, FL/Flagler Palm Coast HS/Indian River) from the bullpen, who ended the frame via groundout. After 5.1 innings of work, Studstill finished the day with six strikeouts and let up five hits.

The Eagles' offense struck hard against the Dolphins in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Anthony Gonnella (Riverview, FL/Riverview HS/State College of Florida-Manatee) and senior Marc Coffers (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS) reached in consecutive at-bats, and senior Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, FL/Lyman HS) was intentionally walked to load the bases. With two outs on the board, senior Keith Stevens (Miami, FL/Miami Killian HS/Hillsborough CC) stepped into the batter's box and doubled down the right field line to score all three baserunners, as well as put the team up 3-1.

Bitner cruised through the next two innings, allowing just one hit. He was relieved in the top of the eighth by junior closer Hunter McGarry (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian School/State College of Florida). Bitner finished his outing with three strikeouts and faced just two over the minimum. McGarry entered the game with two outs on the board and ended the inning with a strikeout.

Jacksonville managed to work the tying run into the batter's box in the top of the ninth, but McGarry ended the game with his third K. The closer picked up his seventh save of the season but wasn't done yet for the day. Bitner earned the win for his scoreless relief work.

With the win, the Eagles claimed their third ASUN series win of the season.

FGCU 2, JU 1
Both sides started off slowly in the second game. Between the two teams, only six baserunners were allowed in the first three frames. Each team managed to advance a runner as far as third, but FGCU senior starter Evan Lumbert (Orlando, FL/Boone HS/South Florida State) and Dolphin starter Austin Temple kept their opposition off the boards.

FGCU was the first team to get on the board, as the Eagles launched a well-balanced attack in the bottom of the fifth. Gilmore led off the inning with a single after poking a ball through the left side. He was replaced by freshman pinch runner Jalen Townsend (Oviedo, FL/Winter Park HS), who moved over to second after a sacrifice bunt by junior pinch hitter Cameron Krzeminski (Coral Springs, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas HS). Gonnella and Coffers launched back-to-back doubles that put the team up 2-0 for the first runs of the day.

The Dolphins responded with a run of their own in the top of the sixth, using an RBI single to cut the Green and Blue's lead down to 2-1. Lumbert battled back and recorded a swinging strikeout for the second out of the inning before being relieved by McGarry who ended the frame. The starter finished his outing after 5.2 innings of work, tallying five Ks.

McGarry recorded the final four outs of the game for the Eagles and earned his second save of the day. The junior now has eight on the season and is tied for third place in the FGCU single-season standings. With five more, he will hold the Eagle record. He became just the second Eagle in the D-I era to earn two saves on the same day. The first was Sterling Koerner, who accomplished the feat in a pair of close victories over Lipscomb on May 13, 2017.

With the win, FGCU swept Jacksonville for the third time in the history between the two teams (2008, 2013) and earned its second ASUN sweep of the season. The Green and Blue won all three against Lipscomb at Swanson Stadium three weeks ago, making this the longest home conference win streak since 2013-14 when FGCU won 11-straight across the end of the 2013 season and beginning of the 2014 campaign.

The three runs throughout the weekend are the fewest the Eagles have ever conceded in a series against the Dolphins. They also tie the fewest runs ever allowed in school history in a three-game conference series (Kennesaw State, 2012).

This was Jacksonville's first time getting swept by a conference opponent since the 2014 season. That year, they got swept by Mercer.

Up Next
The Eagles will be back in action at Swanson Stadium this Wednesday, April 24 to host USF (18-20, 2-10 American) for a midweek game. The matchup against the Bulls is set for 6:30 p.m. and will be the second meeting between the two teams this season. USF earned a 15-4 victory over the Green and Blue up in Tampa on April 2. Overall, the Eagles own the series between the programs 11-6.

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 592-350-3 overall record (.628) and a 192-104 (.648) 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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