AUGUSTANA, N.J. – The FGCU baseball team (32-18, 14-6 ASUN) swept a doubleheader on Saturday against NJIT (17-27-1, 7-17 ASUN) to capture the overall series against the Highlanders. The Eagles earned 6-1, 4-3 victories over NJIT and became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2019 ASUN Conference Tournament.

"It was good to see the guys come out and grab these two wins," head coach Dave Tollett said. "I thought our pitching was much better all-around and I thought that we did a good job of hanging in during the second game when things got tight."

FGCU 6, NJIT 1
Energized by one of senior starter Evan Lumbert's strongest outings this season, the FGCU baseball team rebounded from its Friday night loss to take game two of the series.

The Highlanders were the first to get on the board, pushing a run across in the second inning, but Lumbert (Orlando, FL/Boone HS/South Florida State) kept them off the boards from there as the Eagles' offense got to work.

Freshman Joe Kinker evened the score up at 1-1 with an RBI groundout in the fourth inning that sent senior Eric Gonzalez across and the Eagles took over the game from there.

The Green and Blue used a three-spot in the fifth to extend the lead. Senior Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, FL/Lyman HS) started the spree with a double down the left field line that pushed junior Richie Garcia across, which was followed up by a two-RBI single off the bat of senior Keith Stevens. Junior Kohl Gilmore rounded out the scoring with a bases-clearing double that plated Gonzalez (Miami, FL/American HS/ASA College) and Stevens (Miami, FL/Miami Killian HS/Hillsborough CC).

Freshman Jalen Townsend came in as the final run of the ballgame after Stevens drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth.

Lumbert (5-2) made it through 8.1 innings of the game, the longest outing of any FGCU arm this season. He allowed one earned run on six hits, while fanning three. Freshman Cody Woodring (Lakeland, FL/McKeel Academy of Technology) relieved Lumbert in the bottom of the ninth and made a brief appearance before handing the game over to sophomore Tyler Shuck.

The Highlanders had managed to load up the bases, but Shuck (Cape Coral, FL/Canterbury HS) ended the game with a strikeout and a flyout, earning his first save of the season. With the win, the Eagles became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2019 ASUN Tournament and knotted up the overall series at 1-1.

FGCU 4, NJIT 3
In the opening inning of game three, the Green and Blue jumped out to a 2-0 lead, as Stevens and Gilmore (Fort Pierce, FL/John Carroll HS/Indian River) each pushed a runner across. The Highlanders responded to the early push with a run of their own, but Gilmore, Gonzalez and sophomore Christian Proffitt ended the first with a rundown.

Senior Justin Gill started on the mound for FGCU and kept NJIT off the board for the next few frames. The Eagles' offense struck again in the top of the fifth when Gilmore sent Gonzalez in with a double, making it a 3-1 ballgame. The Highlanders pushed one of their own runners across and sent another one in after a miscue by the Green and Blue defense to even things up at 3-3.

Gill (Winter Haven, FL/Lake Region HS/Polk State) left the game with a no-decision after being relieved by junior Hunter McGarry to start the sixth. The starter finished his day after facing 22 batters, fanning four and allowing six hits.

FGCU had a solid chance to put the game away in the seventh inning. Gonzalez, Kinker (Northport, FL/Venice HS), and Proffitt (Cape Coral, FL/Ida Baker HS) all reached with walks to load up the bases, but NJIT battled back and shut down the inning before the Green and Blue could plate anyone.

Finally, the Eagles were able to string something together in the top of the ninth. Gilmore led off the inning with a double and was replaced by junior pinch runner Marc Coffers. A sac bunt via junior pinch hitter Cameron Krzeminski (Coral Springs, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas HS) sent Coffers (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS) over to third and Townsend  (Oviedo, FL/Winter Park HS) plated the winning run with a sac fly to left field.

McGarry (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian School/State College of Florida) kept NJIT from coming back in the bottom of the ninth and improved to 6-1 on the season.

Up Next
The Eagles will return to Swanson Stadium to host Liberty (33-16, 12-7 ASUN) May 16-18. Thursday's game will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs, as the Flames are new to the ASUN this year. Prior to the game on Saturday, May 18, head coach Dave Tollett and his staff will honor the six graduating seniors: Justin Gill, Kohl Gilmore, Eric Gonzalez, Jay Hayes, Evan Lumbert and Keith Stevens. First pitch both Thursday and Friday is slated for 6:30 p.m. and Saturday's game will be played at 1 p.m..  

Lowest career earned run avg. (min. 40 IP)
1. 1.71 - CRAWFORD, Kutter (84.0 IP) - 2017
2. 2.00 - Studstill, Mason (76.2 IP) - 2019
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. (min. 40 IP)
1. .151 - Studstill, Mason (76.2 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
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 (min. 40 IP)
1. 11.53 - SALE, Chris (228.2 IP) - 2008-10
2. 10.91 - BIXLER, Brandon (128.2 IP) - 2011-13
3. 10.68 - Studstill, Mason (76.2 IP) - 2019
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 - ANDERSON, Garrett - 2014-17
9 - COONEY, Harrison - 2011-13
9 - WAGONER, Jack - 2010-11
8. 8 - McGarry, Hunter - 2019
9. 6 - SHAW, Derek - 2007-09
6 - COLEMAN, Casey - 2006-08

Highest career fielding pct.
1. 1.000 - FIBBE, Paul (368-40-0) - 2007-08
1.000 - Coffers, Marc (125-5-0) - 2019
1.000 - GEBHART, Ryan (166-5-0) - 2012
1.000 - MASINO, Adam (124-12-0) - 2004
1.000 - BURNS, Kevin (50-2-0) - 2005
6. .997 - Brait, Alex (347-24-1) - 2019
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 597-355-3 overall record (.627) and a 197-107 (.647) 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.
 
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