FORT MYERS, Fla. -
Lucas Hartman worked a career-high seven innings, allowing just three runs and striking out six as Florida Gulf Coast University opened up Atlantic Sun Conference play with a 10-4 win over Bellarmine University at Swanson Stadium Friday night.
"I thought we had a good quality start from Hartman," said FGCU head coach
Dave Tollett. "We got on top early, which is huge. I thought we got some big hits from Lojewski and Dempsey, with Dempsey having another three-hit night."
Hartman (4-1) was helped greatly by a five-run first inning from the Eagles as
Jacob Lojewski provided the key blow with a three-run homer out to left-center to open the scoring. Run scoring hits by
Robert Moya and
Mac Moise capped the opening inning's action with FGCU (7-10, 1-0 ASUN) in firm control.
Bellarmine (1-16, 0-1 ASUN) got on the board with a solo homer in the fourth, but a second five-spot for the Eagles in the fifth inning finished paving the way to victory. The big blow of the inning would come with two men out as
Charles Davalan ripped a three-run double down the line in left to give the Eagles a 9-1 lead.
Evan Dempsey continued his hot hitting with a 3-for-4 performance. The game was the third-straight three-hit performance for the Tampa native, who has gone 9-for-15 over this last three games.
But the night on the mound belonged to Hartman. He needed just 65 pitches to get through the first six innings, then worked hard to get through the seventh with only three runs against his line. The junior now has four of FGCU's seven victories.
The Eagles will be back in action Saturday to continue the three-game set. First pitch against the Knights is set for 2 p.m.
