FORT MYERS, FL – With a 2-0 victory, the FGCU baseball team (1-4) secured its first win of the 2020 season as it downed Kent State (2-3) on Friday night at Swanson Stadium. The triumph marked the 600th of head coach Dave Tollett's career and the third milestone win that he has achieved at Swanson Stadium. The skipper earned both his 100th and 200th wins at home, as well.

With the victory, the Eagles now improve to a 12-6 advantage in home openers.

"This was such a special night," Tollett said. "My kids were here, my friends and former members of my staff were here and we had some former players back including Chris Sale. I remember when we started this program 18 years ago and we didn't even have baseballs. But we knew that we could build something special here. Now, having had the players that I've had and the seasons that I've had… It just feels surreal. These guys (on the current team) are like family to me. I knew we had the right stuff heading into this season and I'm glad that we could show people the kind of team we are with this win."

Though the win was low-scoring, it was dominated by the Green and Blue. The team got out early and never trailed.

The Eagles got on the board in their first inning in the batter's box. After reaching with a single, senior Alex Brait (Viera, FL/Viera HS) was brought in by a sac fly off the bat of sophomore Joe Kinker (Northport, FL/Venice HS) to hand the team the early lead.

Following the opening frame, Kent State's starter settled in and allowed just three Eagles to reach base over the next four innings. Junior Brian Ellis (Oviedo, FL/Hagerty HS) broke up the quiet stretch in the fifth inning with a double that he ripped down the right field line, but the team was unable to bring him in.

Finally, FGCU got back into the runs column in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Elijah Eusebio's (Miami, FL/Coral Gables HS) single up the middle plated freshman Kyle Machado (Punta Gorda, FL/Charlotte HS), who had reached with a double. Machado's double was the team's third extra-base hit of the night.

After tossing 6.2 innings, senior Mason Studstill (Titusville, FL/Eastern Florida State) finally handed the ball over to classmate Hunter McGarry (Bradenton, FL/State College of Florida-Manatee) in the top of the seventh with two outs on the board. McGarry struck out the first batter he faced to end the inning.

Studstill (1-0) pitched a quality start, allowing just three hits while fanning six. He kept the visiting team off the board while giving up a lone walk to the 25 batters he faced en route to picking up his first win of the season.

Though they struggled against Eagle pitching all night, the Golden Flashes were successful in working the tying run onto base in the top of the ninth. After the first out of the inning was notched via strikeout, the game then ended in exciting fashion as a pair of Kent State runners were picked off in one play. The first was Michael Turner, who was caught in a rundown between McGarry, sophomore Corey Clement (Pembroke Pines, FL/West Broward HS) and senior Richie Garcia (Davie, FL/West Broward HS). Garcia and sophomore Hunter Fornari (Daytona Beach, FL/Spruce Creek HS) then threw out Eric Wentz at second base to end the game.

After closing the door against the Golden Flashes, McGarry was awarded his first save of the season. With 10 through his career, he now stands alone in fifth place in the FGCU record book. He ranks behind Sterling Koerner (19, 2014-17), Kenton Hering (15, 2016-18), JJ Crumbley (14, 2004-08) and Brady Anderson (11, 2012-16).

Tonight marked just the second time this season that Kent State has been shut out. The only other time the Golden Flashes have been blanked in 2020 was at the hands of No. 1 Miami (Feb. 19). The five hits they cranked out during tonight's game are the second-lowest they've been held to this season.

The teams will return to action for game two tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Swanson Stadium. Game three is slated for a 1 p.m. start on Sunday. 

For complete coverage of FGCU baseball, follow the Eagles on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FGCU_Baseball and online at www.FGCUAthletics.com. You can also sign up to have news on FGCU baseball or other programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.



COACH TOLLETT
FGCU coach Dave Tollett currently owns a 600-362-3 overall record (.623) and a 199-109 (.646) 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 five-time ASUN Coach of the Year and has guided the Green and Blue to five 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, 33 draft picks, three current major leaguers, 13 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.

E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
 
WE'VE GOT YOUR SEAT!
Single game tickets, group packages, and Spring Frequent Flyer Passes are on sale now. Single game tickets are good for all games occurring on a single day and are $7 for adults, $5 for youth (ages 3-15), and $5 for current or former US military service members.
 
Groups of 15 or more can enjoy a day at the ballpark with reserved block seating, group activities, and the choice of free FGCU gear or concessions. Packages start at just $7 per person. Call the ticket office at 239-590-7145 for more information or to book your group.
 
The Spring Frequent Flyer Pass allows multiple entries into Softball and Baseball during the 2020 regular season. Passes are available for 15, 30, and 60 entries for any regular season home game. They can be used in any combination until the pass is exhausted. Passes cost $60 for 15 entries, $105 for 30 entries, and $180 for 60 enties.
 
Single game tickets and Frequent Flyer Passes can be purchased in advance online at FGCUTickets.com or over the phone at 239-590-7145.

#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 81 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 12-plus seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just eight-plus 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 women's basketball (2019-20) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three of the most recent. 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. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2018 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for twenty-one consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall semester saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
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