FORT MYERS, Fla. – Freshman Corey Clement had a walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth that gave the FGCU baseball team (30-14, 12-3 ASUN) a 6-5 win over North Alabama (11-32, 5-12 ASUN) to complete the series sweep on Sunday afternoon at Swanson Stadium. The win marks the third time this season that the Eagles have swept an ASUN opponent.

"This was a great weekend," head coach Dave Tollett said. "North Alabama is tough and they did some things that we haven't seen this season, but we were able to overcome it. Today's win was an awesome way to get the sweep. We hung in when we were down and then Clement had that game-ending hit for us which was huge."

With two outs, Clement (Pembroke Pines, FL/West Broward HS), who had entered the game as a defensive sub in the eighth and only had two previous at-bats on the season, laced a single through the left side that scored junior pinch runner Cameron Krzeminski (Coral Springs, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas HS).
 
With the win, the Eagles stand alone at the top of the ASUN standings. The team has already earned the most conference wins since two seasons ago when the Green and Blue won the 2017 ASUN Championship. The team went 13-8 during the regular season.

The Lions, who had been held to just three earned runs entering the final game of the series, tagged the Eagles' senior starter Evan Lumbert with a pair of runs in the opening frame and added a third in the second. The early 3-0 lead was the visiting team's largest of the weekend.

In the fourth inning, senior Keith Stevens took UNA's starter deep to center field with a two-run shot that plated junior Richie Garcia. The Lions threatened to re-extend their lead after working the bases loaded in the following inning, but senior Eric Gonzalez, Garcia (Davie, FL/West Broward HS) and junior Elijah Eusebio (Miami, FL/Coral Gables HS) turned a double play to get out of the jam.

The Eagles responded with a bases-loaded push of their own in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs on the board, junior Kohl Gilmore (Fort Pierce, FL/John Carroll HS/Indian River) fisted the ball into center field for an two-run single that pushed Garcia and junior Alex Brait (Viera, FL/Viera HS) across, giving FGCU its first lead of the afternoon.

After his rocky start, Lumbert (Orlando, FL/Boone HS/South Florida State) settled into a productive rhythm and allowed just one hit over the next four frames. He was relieved by junior Trey Vickery in the top of the seventh. Lumbert finished six innings of work with five Ks and three walks.

Vickery (Port Orange, FL/Spruce Creek HS) allowed two Lion baserunners, but managed to record two outs before handing the mound over to junior Brenden Heiss (Algonquin, IL/Jacob HS/John A. Logan/Arkansas). UNA capitalized on the pitching change and brought two runs in with an RBI single that handed the team a 5-4 lead. Junior Hunter McGarry was called from the bullpen to end the inning, doing so with a swinging K.

Freshman Joe Kinker (Northport, FL/Venice HS) tied the game in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI single that plated Stevens (Miami, FL/Miami Killian HS/Hillsborough CC), which would set the stage for Clement's heroics in the ninth.

McGarry (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian School/State College of Florida) was awarded the win for keeping the Lions off the board while FGCU took its final lead and improved to 5-1 on the season.
 
Up Next
The Eagles will head to FAU (29-14, 15-6 C-USA) for their last scheduled midweek game of the season. The game against the Owls is set for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30 in Boca Raton. FGCU holds a 12-7 advantage in the history between the two programs, including a 6-3 edge at the Owls' home stadium. FAU is currently ranked at #52 in the RPI standings.  

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 595-351-3 overall record (.629) and a 195-104 (.651) 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 in November and April 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 77 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 36 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.
 
-- FGCUATHLETICS.COM --