FORT MYERS, FL – Boosted by senior Cameron Krzeminski's three-for-four effort at the plate, the FGCU baseball team (6-7) earned a 4-3 Friday night victory over Saint Joseph's (5-6) at Swanson Stadium. In addition to Krzeminski's performance, the game was also highlighted by senior starter Mason Studstill (Titusville, FL/Eastern Florida State), who matched his career high with 11 punchouts through six innings of work.

"Tonight's game was a battle of two horses," head coach Dave Tollett said. "Two thoroughbreds that were just fighting it out on the mound. Both of them came in with the same ERA and both are really great pitchers. I thought Mason was just a little bit better and that's what made the difference."

Tollett's statement refers to the battle that ensued between Studstill and his Hawk counterpart Jordan DiValerio. Both entered the Friday night contest with a 1.06 ERA and were fairly evenly matched in strikeouts, as the visitor held a 26-24 advantage.

While the Eagles were able to score in the first inning thanks to a wild pitch that plated junior Brian Ellis (Oviedo, FL/Hagerty HS), DiValerio did settle in and allowed just one baserunner through the following three frames. Senior Elijah Eusebio (Miami, FL/Coral Gables HS) got the home team back into the runs column in the fifth when his double plated Krzeminski, putting the team up 2-0.

In the following frame, the Eagles tacked on to their lead when Krzeminski's second two-bagger of the night brought in freshman Kyle Machado (Punta Gorda, FL/Charlotte HS) and sophomore Jalen Townsend (Orlando, FL/Winter Park HS) making it Eagles 4, Hawks 0.

Up until the seventh inning, Studstill held Saint Joe's scoreless. After allowing a pair of runners on, he was relieved by classmate Sebastian Gruszecki (Dudley, MA/Shepherd Hill Regional HS). The pitching change sparked the Hawks' offense, as a two-out RBI double brought in a pair of runs and cut the Eagles' lead in half.

Studstill pitched a quality start for the Green and Blue, tossing 6.0 innings, matching his career high in strikeouts and escaping with just one earned run. Tonight's effort marked the second time this season that he has fanned double-digit batters and the fifth in his FGCU career.

The Eagles made another pitching change in the eighth, when senior Hunter McGarry (Bradenton, FL/State College of Florida-Manatee) came out of the bullpen. The closer allowed an inherited runner to score, but maintained FGCU's lead at 4-3 when he ended the inning. He retired the side in the final frame, thus earning him his second save of the season. The result also moved Studstill to an unblemished, 3-0 mark.

The teams will return to Swanson Stadium tomorrow for game two of the series, which is slated for a 2 p.m. start time. With a win, the Eagles would clinch their second-consecutive series victory, as they took two-of-three while on the road against Bethune-Cookman last weekend.

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 605-365-3 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 entries.
 
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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