FGCU-Jacksonville box score | 2023 FGCU baseball stats | 2023 FGCU schedule | ASUN scoreboard/schedule | ASUN standings
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Despite a strong first collegiate start from redshirt sophomore Connor O'Hara (Davie, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas HS), the 16^th-ranked FGCU baseball team absorbed a 4-2 setback Friday night against Jacksonville at Swanson Stadium.
 
The loss snapped a seven-game FGCU winning streak, and moved the Green & Blue to 21-5 overall and 5-2 in the ASUN Conference. Jacksonville (19-8, 5-2) won its sixth straight game.
 
O'Hara (2-2), who was making his 13^th appearance of the season, scattered eight hits and struck out four in 6 1/3 innings. He allowed three runs – two earned – and walked a batter in 93 pitches.
 
"I thought we got a great start out of O'Hara. It was pretty good, because we had been struggling a little bit in that area on Friday nights," said FGCU head baseball coach Dave Tollett. "Connor gave us a chance to win. We had our chances, but I'll take those same guys up every time. It was a good Friday night ASUN matchup, and we just didn't get it done. We got beat, and that's ok. We will come back (Saturday) and try to even the series up."
 
FGCU managed seven hits, all singles, against Jacksonville starter Evan Chrest and two relievers. Senior catcher/infielder Alejandro Rodriguez (Cidra, Puerto Rico/Montverde Academy/Eastern Florida State) and redshirt senior outfielder Brian Ellis (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty HS) were the only Eagles with multiple hits, each going 2-for-4.
 
By reaching base via a first-inning single up the middle, Ellis extended his school-record streak to 95 games. The unofficial NCAA record for consecutive games reaching base is 101, held by former Texas standout Mark Payton.
 
FGCU dented Chrest, one of the ASUN's most dominant pitchers so far in 2023, for both of its runs in the second inning. Junior infielder/pitcher Jacob Lojewski (West Palm Beach, Fla./Delray American Heritage HS) singled to left field that was booted by the Dolphins, allowing Rodriguez to score all the way from first base. Sophomore infielder Jake Mummau (Palm Harbor, Fla./Palm Harbor University HS/St. Petersburg College) then drove in Lojewski with a base hit up the middle to make it 2-0.
 
After four innings of O'Hara largely shutting the Dolphins down, Jacksonville managed to tie it up in the fifth on a Chase Malloy two-run homer to left. JU then took a 3-2 lead in the sixth via a Cam Ridley RBI single.
 
FGCU had its chances to take the lead back in the seventh, loading the bases with one out and chasing Chrest (4-0) in favor of reliever Bryce Fisher – who generated an infield pop fly and a groundout to squelch the threat.
 
Jacksonville tacked on its final run in the ninth via a Kris Armstrong RBI single. JU's Chris Lotito pitched a flawless ninth to earn his seventh save.
 
The two teams resume the pivotal ASUN series at 2 p.m. Saturday at Swanson Stadium. FGCU sends junior left-hander Mason Miller (Odessa, Fla./Mitchell HS) to the mound against JU right-hander Richard Long.
 
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 693-412-3 overall record (.625) and a 233-132 (.638) 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. 16 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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