NORTH PORT, Fla. - After exploding for 25 runs across the first three games of the season, Florida Gulf Coast University was held to just a pair Wednesday night by Indiana State University as the Eagles fell 5-2 at CoolToday Park.
FGCU (0-4) had its best pitching performance of the young season in the game, keeping the Sycamores (4-0) to just seven hits and only five runs; however, the Eagles could muster five hits of their own and only the two runs.
Indiana State scored twice in the third to take a 2-0 lead, but FGCU answered back with a run in the home half of the inning. After a single by
Charles Davalan, the freshman moved up to second on a throwing error. A passed ball moved Davalan to third, and then after a walk to
Ian Farrow, Davalan would come home on a wild pitch to give FGCU its first run of the night.
The Sycamores used a two-run double to extend the lead to 4-1 in the fourth. In the sixth, the Eagles bounced back with a run. With the infield back and runners on second and third, Farrow's grounder to short went underneath the shortstop's glove.
Dalton Robinson scored from third to make it 4-2, with runners now on the corners and one out. Instead of extending the rally, back-to-back strikeouts ended the Green and Blue threat.
An unearned run would cross the plate for the Sycamores in the sixth, and that would prove to be the last of the scoring on the night.
FGCU used six different pitchers to keep Indiana State at bay, with each one recording at least one strikeout.
Matt Kavanaugh was charged with the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in 2.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
Nick Love allowed two runs in 1.2 innings with a punch out.
Derek Crum allowed an unearned run in an inning of work with one strikeout.
Ryland Bozenhard struck out four batters in 1.2 scoreless innings of action.
William Haberstock's only out recorded came on a strikeout, and
Davian Garcia struck out the side in the ninth as part of 1.2 innings of relief.
The Eagles will return home to open Swanson Stadium this Friday at 6:30 p.m. against Bethune-Cookman.
