FGCU-FAU box score | 2023 FGCU baseball stats | 2023 FGCU schedule
 
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Move over, Mark Payton. There's a new college baseball record holder for consecutive games safely reaching base.
 
FGCU graduate outfielder Brian Ellis (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty HS) etched his name into the sport's record book Tuesday, reaching base safely for the 102^nd straight game in No. 15 FGCU's 5-4 loss against FAU at Swanson Stadium.
 
Ellis drew a five-pitch walk to lead off the bottom of the first, setting the Eagles dugout into a frenzy as he trotted to first base. The game was halted briefly as Ellis wrested the base from its anchor and held it up for photos – the record-setting bag taken out of play for all time and a new one installed.

"It's a great feeling to have any record here, and to have that one as a national record is a huge accomplishment that I am happy about," Ellis said. "I'm glad I got it out of the way early, and any time I get on base I am happy because it helps our team."
 
Ellis entered Tuesdays' game with a .501 on-base percentage during the streak, which began on April 30, 2021 when he walked and was hit by a pitch against North Florida. Ellis recorded 143 hits in 401 at-bats during his record-setting march, drawing 78 walks and being hit by a pitch 39 times.
 
In becoming Mr. 102, Ellis surpassed former Texas standout Mark Payton, who established the unofficial NCAA record in 2013-14. The NCAA doesn't chart consecutive games reached base safely – only either via a hit, a walk or being hit by a pitch – as an official statistic. Ellis reached base in the final 11 games of the 2021 season, all 58 games of the 2022 season, and all 33 games of the 2023 campaign.

"He is just a special player, so unselfish," said FGCU head baseball coach Dave Tollett. "This record states just how unselfish he is, and it is so special. He is a great kid, one of the best kids I've ever coached, and the only captain I have ever had in 37 years. It is well deserved."
 
Ellis' record was dampened slightly in the end with FAU's second straight victory over the Eagles (26-7), as the Owls (22-12) unloaded 12 hits and held off a power-packed Green & Blue lineup.
 
Buoyed by Ellis breaking the record to lead off the first, FGCU grabbed a 3-0 lead right out of the gate when senior catcher/infielder Alejandro Rodriguez (Cidra, Puerto Rico/Montverde Academy/Eastern Florida State) launched a three-run homer that cut through the 30-mph wind blowing straight across the Swanson Stadium diamond from first to third.
 
FAU immediately responded in the top of the second, though, as Armando Albert delivered a two-run single and Nolan Schanuel added an RBI single to make it 3-3.

"We put up a three-spot early with Brian energizing us, but then we gave it right back in the next inning," Tollett said. "We have to put a zero up after we score. We just have to find a way to to that against a solid club like FAU."
 
The Owls, who downed FGCU last week 8-4, took a two-run lead in the fourth via Mitchell Hartigan's two-run double to deep center.
 
FGCU narrowed the margin to a single run in the bottom of the eighth on junior infielder Edrick Felix's (Orlando, Fla./Victory Charter HS/College of Central Florida) towering solo homer to left. But the Eagles couldn't put another runner on base from there.
 
Junior William Haberstock (Roswell, Ga./Centennial HS/North Alabama) absorbed the loss for FGCU, with Tyler Murphy earning the win for FAU.
 
The Eagles remain at home Wednesday night, hosting FIU (14-19) at 6:30 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. FGCU then travels to Eastern Kentucky this weekend for a three-game ASUN set.
 
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 697-415-3 overall record (.626) and a 238-131 (.645) 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 97 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. 15 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.
 
---FGCUATHLETICS.COM---