FORT MYERS, FL – A six-run, seventh-inning rally helped boost the FGCU baseball team (7-7) past Saint Joseph's (5-7) on Saturday afternoon at Swanson Stadium, as the Eagles went on to win game two of the series by a score of 7-5. With the victory, the team has secured its second-straight series win and moves to .500 on the season.

"Today was a great come-from-behind win," head coach Dave Tollett said. "I think clubs need to know how to do that and it's something we've been talking a lot about at practice. What a great day for our two freshmen (Machado and Long) and our bullpen. They (the pitchers) came in, did a good job of holding them and gave our offense a chance to win. Today was a big win. If we can keep doing this, I'll be happy."

Freshmen Kyle Machado (Punta Gorda, FL/Charlotte HS) and Johnny Long (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS) combined for six of the team's 11 hits and both scored key runs during the team's late rally. Senior Marc Coffers (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS), who doubled twice, also tallied a multi-hit game.

Over the first two innings, Saint Joseph's put up a pair of unanswered runs, taking its first lead of the series. Coffers answered for the home team in the third, when his first double of the game plated junior Brian Ellis (Oviedo, FL/Hagerty HS) and cut the advantage in half.

After loading up the bases, the Eagles had another chance to score in the bottom of the fourth but none of the runners were able to be brought in before the third out was recorded.

In the fifth, the Hawks re-extended their lead by using a two-RBI double that made it Saint Joseph's 4, FGCU 1. With one runner on and no outs, the Eagles went to their bullpen and brought out junior Joey Mugavero (Estero, FL/FSW) to take over the mound. Junior starter Nikolas Bitner (Palm Coast, FL/Indian River State) finished his day after tossing 4.0 innings and fanning five. He was tagged with two earned runs and let up six hits.

Though he made it out of his first inning clean, Mugavero did allow a lead-off solo shot in the top of the sixth that extended SJU's lead to four runs. Over the fifth and sixth frames, both Machado and Long cranked out hits but they were each stranded on base as the Eagles struggled to string anything together.

The home team staged its rally in the bottom of the seventh, putting up a six-spot to take its 7-5 lead. Junior Brandon Dorsey (Fort Myers, FL/Wallace Dothan CC) kicked off the scoring when he homered to left center and plated Machado. Ellis then tied the game up with a triple that pushed both Long and junior PJ Cimo (Boca Raton, FL/South Florida State College) across and FGCU finally earned its lead when Ellis came in on another Coffers double. The senior later tacked on an insurance run when he scored on an error made by the Hawks.

A leadoff double put some pressure on the Eagles, forcing them to make another pitching change. Junior Gus Carter (Melbourne, FL/FSW) was called on to close things out, doing so against the first three batters that he faced. The late effort awarded Mugavero the first win of his FGCU career (1-2) and handed Carter the first save of his career.

The series finale between the Eagles and the Hawks will kick off at 1 p.m. at Swanson Stadium on Sunday. The Eagles, who have already clinched the series, will be looking for their first sweep of the 2020 season. A victory would also be the team's seventh in eight games and put FGCU at .533 on the year.
 
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 606-365-3 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.

-- FGCUATHLETICS.COM –