FGCU-UNA box score | 2023 FGCU baseball stats | 2023 FGCU schedule | ASUN scoreboard/schedule | ASUN standings
 
FLORENCE, Ala. – The 19^th-ranked FGCU baseball team finished off Sunday what should be an explosive message to the ASUN Conference: Pitch to us at your own risk.
 
Junior infielder/pitcher Jacob Lojewski (West Palm Beach, Fla./Delray American Heritage HS) hit a grand slam and a three-run homer to help the Eagles overwhelm the North Alabama Lions 14-3 and earn a series sweep at Mike D. Lane Field.
 
Winners of seven straight, FGCU (21-4 overall, 5-1 ASUN) scored 56 runs in three games against the Lions – upping the Green & Blue's per-game scoring total to 10.2 runs per outing. UNA (5-17, 0-6) allowed 41 hits in the three-game series, and lost its 10^th straight game Sunday to fall into the cellar of the conference standings. FGCU trails only Jacksonville State (13-11, 6-0) in the ASUN standings.
 
Two of FGCU's three victories against UNA were double-digit victories – the only the second time the Eagles accomplished that feat (Stetson in 2022, East Tennessee State in 2009). This weekend's effort against UNA was also the most runs the Green & Blue has ever scored in a three-game ASUN series.
 
"Today was our most complete game of the three this weekend," said FGCU head baseball coach Dave Tollett. "We got on top early, (starter Justin) Henschel gave us a good start, (Max) Rippl was good out of the pen, and LJ (McDonough) came in to close it out.
 
"We only committed one error all weekend, we took the walks today when they were there for us. It was just a good weekend all the way around. This is one of the best offenses I have ever had, no question. You can't sugar-coat it or hide it anymore. It is what it is."
 
FGCU got all the offense it would ultimately need in the first inning Sunday. Junior infielder Edrick Felix (Orlando, Fla./Victory Charter HS/College of Central Florida) drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 1-0, and Lojewski followed with a grand slam to left for a 5-0 lead.
 
UNA pushed a run across in the bottom of the first on a wild pitch, but FGCU added a run in the second when senior infielder Alejandro Figueredo (Sucre, Venezuela/West Oaks HS/Seminole State) singled in redshirt senior outfielder Brian Ellis (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty HS), and another run in the third via a solo homer by senior catcher/infielder Alejandro Rodriguez (Cidra, Puerto Rico/Montverde Academy/Eastern Florida State).
 
UNA's Jackson Cheek belted a solo homer in the bottom of the third to make it 7-2, but Lojewski answered with an RBI single in the fifth for an 8-2 advantage.
 
After Jackson Cheek tripled home the Lions' final run of the series in their half of the fifth, FGCU left no doubt about the outcome in the sixth inning. Senior designated hitter Joe Kinker (North Port, Fla./Venice HS) singled in a run, Felix doubled home another, Lojewski smacked a three-run homer, and sophomore outfielder Harrison Povey (Indian Rocks Beach, Fla./Largo HS) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to complete a six-run outburst.
 
Redshirt freshman Justin Henschel (Plantation, Fla. South Plantation HS) scattered five hits and two earned runs over 4 1/3 innings to earn his third victory. Raleigh Claunch (1-2) pitched the first two innings for UNA and took the loss.

FGCU returns to Swanson Stadium this weekend for a three-game set against ASUN foe Jacksonville. First pitch Friday is at 6:30 p.m., and all three games will be broadcast on ESPN+.
 
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.
 
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS, MINI PLANS AVAILABLE  
Tickets for the 2023 FGCU baseball season are on sale now and can be purchased by going online to www.FGCUTickets.com or calling 866-FGCU-TIX. Group tickets can also be purchased for 10 or more people – making a memorable evening for families, businesses, or other organizations.  
 
COACH TOLLETT
FGCU coach Dave Tollett currently owns a 692-412-3 overall record (.626) and a 233-131 (.640) 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 63 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, two National Freshman All-Americans, 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!  
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/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 https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.  
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 96 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 15-plus seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 11-plus seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 48 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. In 2022, the men's golf team became the first program to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. Nine FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 20 in 2021-22 and No. 22 in 2022-23), baseball (No. 19 in 2023), beach volleyball (No. 20 in 2022), and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as five of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green & 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 3.67 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2022 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 27 consecutive semesters. The past seven semesters (Fall 2019 – Fall 2022) saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher cumulative 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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