AUGUSTANA, N.J. – The FGCU baseball team (30-18, 12-6 ASUN) came out on the losing side of an 8-4 battle against NJIT (17-25-1, 7-15 ASUN) on Friday afternoon at Skylands Stadium.

"Obviously, we wanted to come out here and earn that Friday win," head coach Dave Tollett said. "But it's hard to do that when you play the way that we did today. We have adjustments to make before we come back here tomorrow. This team knows how to bounce back."

The Highlanders' bats got hot early in the game as they eventually put up their most runs in a conference match-up since a 9-2 victory over Liberty back in March.

In the opening frame, NJIT tagged the Eagles' junior starter Mason Studstill with three runs and never relinquished their lead from there. Studstill (Titusville, FL/Rockledge HS/Eastern Florida State) and junior Sebastian Gruszecki finished the game tagged with four earned runs apiece and gave up a combined total of 10 hits.

After relieving Studstill to start the fourth, Gruszecki (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional HS) ended up tossing the final five frames, which stands as the longest outing of his career.

Despite trailing the whole game, the Eagles did have a few chances to close in on NJIT. In the second inning, freshman Joe Kinker (Northport, FL/Venice HS) cut the game down to 3-1 with a single that pushed senior Keith Stevens across. A two-out scoring spree brought the Green and Blue up to 7-4 in the fifth, but the Highlanders held on to their lead.

The trio of Stevens (Miami, FL/Miami Killian HS/Hillsborough CC, junior Alex Brait (Viera, FL/Viera HS) and senior Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, FL/Lyman HS) accounted for the three RBIs in FGCU's scoring spurt and combined for seven hits.

This was just the fourth Friday-night loss for the Green and Blue and the second for Studstill (5-2) so far this season. Overall, the Eagles are 8-4 in Friday games.

Up Next
The teams will return to Skylands Stadium tomorrow at 11 a.m. for a doubleheader. The teams will wrap up the series approximately 30 minutes after the completion of the first game.

Highest career on base pct. (minimum 150 AB)
1. .493 - BROWN, Chris (384 AB) - 2003-04
2 ..484 - MANSON, Ian (276 AB) - 2005-06
3. .475 - MAXFIELD, Zach (649 AB) - 2009-11
4. .474 - PEACOCK, Jason (408 AB) - 2007-08
5. .450 - PERRY, Chris (508 AB) - 2003-06
6. .449 - COOPER, Jason (541 AB) - 2003-05
7. .447 - ALVAREZ, Mikel (879 AB) - 2008-11
8. .447 - Hayes, Jay (165 AB) – 2019
9. .446 - Kinker, Joe (153 AB) – 2019
10. .439 - UPCHURCH, Josh (894 AB) - 2006-09

Lowest career earned run avg. (minimum 40 IP)

1.		1.59 - Studstill, Mason (73.2 IP) - 2019
2.		1.71 - CRAWFORD, Kutter (84.0 IP) - 2017
3.		2.52 - SALE, Chris (228.2 IP) - 2008-10
4.		2.70 - BLEIER, Richard (209.2 IP) - 2006-08
5.		2.73 - MURRAY, Michael (284.0 IP) - 2013-15
6.		2.73 - SHAW, Derek (115.1 IP) - 2007-09
7.		2.82 - CRUMBLEY, J.J. (185.0 IP) - 2005-08
8.		2.85 - Bitner, Nikolas (41.0 IP) - 2019
9.		2.92 - KNAPP, Ricky (283.1 IP) - 2011-13
10.		2.93 - PARDO, Luis (76.2 IP) - 2007

Lowest career opponent batting avg. (minimum 40 IP)

1.		.142 - Studstill, Mason (73.2 IP) - 2019
2.		.194 - CRAWFORD, Kutter (84.0 IP) - 2017
3.		.201 - BIXLER, Brandon (128.2 IP) - 2011-13
4.		.207 - CAHILL, Chris (69.2 IP) - 2003-04
5.		.216 - DESGUIN, Jordan (62.0 IP) - 2015
6.		.232 - KNOBLAUCH, Clint (44.1 IP) - 2012-14,16
7.		.234 - ENGLISH, Jack (138.1 IP) - 2012-15
8.		.235 - SALE, Chris (228.2 IP) - 2008-10
9.		.235 - Bitner, Nikolas (41.0 IP) - 2019
10.		.241 - Lumbert, Evan (56.0 IP) - 2019

Most career strikeouts / 9 inn. game (minimum 40 IP)

1.		11.53 - SALE, Chris (228.2 IP) - 2008-10
2.		11.00 - Studstill, Mason (73.2 IP) - 2019
3.		10.91 - BIXLER, Brandon (128.2 IP) - 2011-13
4.		10.61 - CRAWFORD, Kutter (84.0 IP) - 2017
5.		10.54 - HERING, Kenton (134.0 IP) - 2016-18
6.		10.42 - GRAY, Peyton (95.0 IP) - 2017-18
7.		10.27 - WILLIAMS, Ryan (125.1 IP) - 2004-06
8.		10.21 - PARDO, Luis (76.2 IP) - 2007
9.		10.08 - CAHILL, Chris (69.2 IP) - 2003-04
10.		9.90 - BARNES, Jacob (113.2 IP) - 2009-11

Most career saves

1.		19 - KOERNER, Sterling - 2014-17
2.		15 - HERING, Kenton - 2016-18
3.		14 - CRUMBLEY, J.J. - 2005-08
4.		11 - ANDERSON, Brady - 2012-16
5.		9 - COONEY, Harrison - 2011-13
		9 - ANDERSON, Garrett - 2014-17
		9 - WAGONER, Jack - 2010-11
8.		8 - McGarry, Hunter - 2019
9.		6 - COLEMAN, Casey - 2006-08
		6 - SHAW, Derek - 2007-09

Highest career fielding percentage (minimum 50 chances)
1. 1.000 - FIBBE, Paul (368-40-0) - 2007-08
1.000 - MASINO, Adam (124-12-0) – 2004
1.000 - BURNS, Kevin (50-2-0) – 2005
1.000 - GEBHART, Ryan (166-5-0) – 2012
1.000 - Coffers, Marc (125-5-0) – 2017-19
6. .997 - Brait, Alex (343-24-1) – 2017-19
7. .996 - ROBERTS, Brad (243-12-1) – 2009
8. .993 - CLEGHORN, Mike (278-13-2) - 2005-06
9. .992 - SMITH, Graig (1053-130-9) - 2005-08
10. .992 - MAXFIELD, Zach (1172-63-10) - 2009-11

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 595-355-3 overall record (.626) and a 195-107 (.645) 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 soccer, women's soccer, and women's basketball again in 2018-19. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in spring 2018 and have outpaced their institution's undergraduate student body GPA each of the past twenty semesters. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours - being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl in 2017.
 
-- FGCUATHLETICS.COM –