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FORT MYERS, Fla. – Dave Tollett has coached FGCU baseball since the program started, so he's seen a lot.
 
However, the hitting and offensive display by his Eagles this year has shown him a few new things.
 
Ever had a leadoff hitter like gradaute outfielder Brian Ellis?
 
"Nooooo," Tollett said.
 
Ever had six hitters with double-digit homers? "Nooooo," Tollett said with a chuckle. "I don't think many teams have ever had that.
 
"When we go into a ballgame, there's two or three guys you circle that you don't want to beat us. But with our lineup, there's a lot of guys you circle."
 
The Eagles' hitting prowess has led to national, conference, school and personal records.
 
FGCU ranks in the NCAA's top 25 in nine offensive categories, which ranges from hit by pitches (116, No. 6) to home runs (125, No. 1).
 
There are seven Eagles with batting averages of .300 or better, eight with slugging percentages of .460 or higher, and nine with on-base percentages of .392 or better.
 
That means runs, runs, runs – to the tune of 9.6 per game.
 
The Eagles (38-17), who open ASUN Championship play at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday against Jacksonville in DeLand as the No. 2 seed, are setting school offensive marks that may not be equaled for a long time – a trend that will need to continue in the postseason.
 
"We feed off each other's energy," Ellis said. "We feel confident in all our hitters, from No. 1 to 9. There are not many weaknesses. How many other teams can say that?"
 
There's a saying that the best ability is availability, and that explains why the Eagles have hit so consistently well. Their top eight hitters have missed a total of six starts.
 
This has led to a continuously potent offense, which has seen the Eagles:
•       Lead the country in homers (125) and slugging percentage (.587).
•       Score four or more runs in 52 of 55 games this season.
•       Score 10 or more runs in 27 games.
•       Go just five games without a home run.
•       Hit almost twice as many homers as they've given up (125-66).
 
"When you put together a club, you want to have length," Tollett said. "We've got (junior infielder Jacob) Lojewski hitting 18 homers in the No. 8 hole. It's the best length we've had in this program."
 
In a lineup of mashers, it's best to start at the top with Ellis, a player who set the unofficial NCAA record for consecutive games of reaching base safely at 117. That's practically two seasons in a row of getting on base every game.
 
"I didn't change my approach," Ellis said. "It's always to get on base and help us win the game. If I get on base, we have a greater chance to win the game."
 
Ellis underscores FGCU's biggest goal, Tollett said.
 
"Our offensive philosophy is on-base percentage," he said. "It all starts with walks, hit by pitches. That's free trips to first base."
 
At the start of the season, senior first baseman Alejandro Figueredo was named a preseason All-American by Collegiate Baseball.
 
His 19 homers, 62 RBIs, .353 batting average and .656 slugging percentage are worthy of such honors.
 
However, those numbers are basically third-best on the Eagles.
 
"I do (think about that) but what's amazing about our team is we play for each other and want to achieve the same goal," Figueredo said. "It's a great group of guys."
 
Sophomore second baseman Edrick Felix has 23 homers, 73 RBIs, a .459 on-base average and a .791 slugging percentage. He'll try to be the first FGCU player with a slugging percentage of .800. His 178 total bases are No. 2 in the country.
 
"At the beginning of the year, I wrote goals on a piece of paper," Felix said. "Stay healthy, hit over .370, get 20-plus homers, win the Triple Crown on the team (home runs, RBIs, average).
 
"And win a ring."
 
Senior designated hitter Joe Kinker has 17 homers, 73 RBI, a .474 on-base percentage and a .682 slugging percentage. His 59 round-trippers are a school record.
 
"I have a better understanding of how teams want to pitch me," Kinker said. "I've hit in the conference for so long. They have a good idea of how to attack me so instead of being stubborn, I accept I've gotta hit some pitches.
 
"But it's great having protection in the lineup. They want to put as few guys on base as possible so they throw me more strikes."
 
Lojewski, sophomore outfielder Harrison Povey (16) and senior outfielder/pitcher Stephen Wilmer (14) also have double-digit homers while senior catcher Alejandro Rodriguez (.332, 49 RBI) adds to the offensive barrage.
 
"We trust each other," Felix said.
 
In the postseason, Tollett said the team needs to keep scoring. Injuries to front-line pitchers makes that imperative.
 
Ellis, Felix and Kinker said the hitters need to stay selfless. If that means getting hit by a pitch or taking pitches or taking a walk, they need to do it.
 
"You have to put all stats aside and play 100 percent for the team," Tollett said. "Get clutch hitting when you need it. In a tournament setting, you want to get through as much of the other team's pitchers as you can.
 
"Then get to the next round."
 
COACH TOLLETT
 
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ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 98 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 49 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 3.57 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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