FORT MYERS, FL – The second game between FGCU baseball (1-5) and Kent State (3-3) saw the Golden Flashes even up the series as they claimed a 9-2 victory on Saturday afternoon at Swanson Stadium. The visiting team led the whole way in a game that saw a combined total of seven errors.

While the teams finished comparably in hits (Kent State 10, FGCU 8), it was ultimately the Eagles' miscues that made the difference in the loss. FGCU had five errors and walked nine batters, allowing Kent State to pick up five unearned runs.

"I think the first three innings really set the tone for game two of this series," head coach Dave Tollett said. "We didn't pitch well. We had nine walks and that's just unacceptable for our staff. We're better than that. We're going to have to make adjustments and we're going to find some guys that are going to throw strikes for us."

After a 19-inning scoreless streak, Kent State was able to get on the board in the top of the second. A throwing error shifted the momentum in favor of the visiting team, as it allowed what would eventually prove to be the first run of the ballgame to reach first base. Four-consecutive base runners reached following the initial error, as the Golden Flashes put up a three-spot to take the lead.

Of the next five innings, Kent State scored in four of them. Including FGCU's junior starter Gus Carter (Melbourne, FL/FSW), who was eventually tagged with his first loss of the season, five different arms made appearances during that stretch. All but junior Tyler Shuck (Cape Coral, FL/Canterbury HS) and senior Dylan Verdonk (Losser, Netherlands/Seton Hall) were charged with earned runs.

Through the middle of the game, the Eagles struggled to get something going as senior Marc Coffers (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS) was the only player to tally a hit. The quiet stretch was broken up by freshman Kyle Machado (Punta Gorda, FL/Charlotte HS) and senior Cameron Krzeminski (Coral Springs, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas HS) who cranked out back-to-back singles in the bottom of the seventh, but the team was unable to capitalize on the situation.

Finally, the Green and Blue got on the board in the bottom of the eighth thanks to an RBI double off the bat of freshman Johnny Long (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS). His hit plated Machado to make it a 9-1 ballgame. In the following frame, the Eagles added their final run of the night when junior PJ Cimo (Boca Raton, FL/South Florida CC) pushed Krzeminski across with an RBI single, cementing the final score at 9-2.

In his first appearance of the year, sophomore Chris Seymour (Boynton Beach, FL/Park Vista HS) was able to stifle Kent State over the final two innings of the contest. He let up two hits, walked one and fanned two of the nine batters that he faced as he closed things out.

With their win, the Golden Flashes forced the decision of the overall series to be made at tomorrow's 1 p.m. game. The teams currently sit at one win apiece, as the Eagles claimed Friday night's result 2-0.

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 600-363-3 overall record (.622) 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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