FORT MYERS, Fla. – In a game that saw a combined 30 runs scored, it was the FGCU baseball team (10-4) that emerged victorious as the Eagles earned a 17-13 win over USF (7-6) on Sunday afternoon at Swanson Stadium. With the result, FGCU completed its second three-game sweep over USF of the 2021 season.

The team's 17 runs were the most scored since the March 31, 2019 victory over Towson (20-3). Seniors Marc Coffers (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) and Cameron Krzeminski (Coral Springs, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS) tied for the team lead with three runs scored apiece, while eight total Eagles crossed home plate.

"What an unbelievable weekend for our offense," head coach Dave Tollett said. "Fourty-four hits against quality pitching throughout three games is awesome. Two weeks ago, we won two ballgames on four hits and the pitching picked up our offense. This weekend, the offense picked up our pitching. That's the sign of a good team. This was a big weekend for this program. A lot of guys had some great offensive numbers."

The scoring started immediately in the series finale, as the Bulls were able to tag up three runs in the opening frame. Though it took the Eagles an inning to get things going, the team tied things up in the bottom of the second. Sophomore Stephen Wilmer (Sarasota, Fla./Riverview HS/ECU/Pasco-Hernando State) kicked off the scoring with a two-RBI triple and a wild pitch allowed the Eagles' third run of the frame to come in, knotting things up at 3-3.

The Bulls, who had only scored a combined six runs in Friday and Saturday's outings, used a six-spot to regain the lead in the third. USF initially used RBI singles to get the offense going before a three-run homer capped off the spurt. Both junior starter Joey Mugavero (Estero, Fla./Estero HS/Florida Southwestern State) and classmate Gus Carter (Melbourne, Fla./Eau Gallie HS/Florida Southwestern State) were tagged with runs during the inning, with the Bulls jumping out to a 9-3 edge.

There was a brief pause in the scoring after USF's outburst when the Bulls' starter retired the side in the third and Carter did the same in the top of the fourth. FGCU's offense was unable to be contained for long as Krzeminski's RBI double plated Coffers in the bottom of the inning. A USF miscue then allowed Krzeminski to score, trimming the Bull's lead down to 9-5.

USF pushed an unearned run across in the following frame, which re-extended its edge to 10-5 and forced the Eagles to make their third pitching change. Redshirt-junior Jake Lister (Bradenton, Fla./Bradenton Christian School/FAMU) received the call and was able to end the inning, stranding a pair of runners.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles' offense exploded with a 10-run, seven-hit performance that boosted the team to a 15-10 lead. Sophomore Joe Kinker (North Port, Fla./Venice HS) had a pair of hits during the frame, as FGCU nearly got through its lineup twice. Junior Alejandro Figueredo (Sucre, Venezuela/West Oaks HS/Seminole State), who initially reached with a single, scored the sixth run of the inning and handed the Eagles the lead when he came in on senior Richie Garcia's (Davie, Fla./West Broward HS) RBI single. Figueredo's run was one of five that the Eagles scored with two outs. Overall, FGCU used four RBI singles, a pair of wild pitches, a throwing error and two plunked batters to regain the lead.

After recording the first out of the sixth, Lister was relieved by sophomore Chris Seymour (Boynton Beach, Fla./Park Vista HS). The right-hander issued a walk before turning things over to freshman Jason Woodward (Titusville, Fla./Titusville HS). USF took advantage of the pitching changes and used both an RBI double and an RBI single to close in on the Eagles. The three-spot made it a 15-13 ballgame.

Ellis added an insurance run in the home team's half of the inning when his RBI single sent in freshman Ian Farrow (Merritt Island, Fla./Merritt Island HS). Though FGCU was able to load up the bases, the Bulls made their fifth pitching change and ended the opportunity.

The Green & Blue's 17th and final run was scored in the bottom of the seventh when Figueredo deposited his first FGCU career home run over the wall in right field. The shot was the Eagles' 10^th of the 2021 season and boosted the team to its final 17-13 advantage.

The Bulls' three runs in the sixth were their last of the day, as the Eagles' pitching shut them down for the rest of the game. Woodward retired the side in order in his second inning of work and, after fanning a batter in the top of the eighth, handed the ball to freshman Najer Victor (Philadelphia, Pa./East Ridge HS). The rookie worked around a pair of baserunners to get out of the inning and then went on to retire the side on strikeouts in the ninth.

Lister (1-0) was awarded the first win of his career, while Victor finished his outing with a career-best three punchouts and turned in the third scoreless appearance of his rookie season.

FGCU will continue its home stand with a game against No. 5 Miami on Wednesday, March 17 at Swanson Stadium. The game against the Hurricanes is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch and will be a green out in celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

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 618-369-3 overall record (.626) 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.

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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!
 
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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 85 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13 seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 38 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 (No. 24, 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 (APR) in their sport and have had the highest percentage of teams so honored from these two groups over each of the past three years. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.46 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 22 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall and 2020 Spring semesters each 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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