FORT MYERS, Fla. - Spurred on by a pair of solo home runs from
Ian Farrow and two-run homers from
Robert Moya and
Charles Davalan, Florida Gulf Coast University locked up a win in the opening Atlantic Sun Conference baseball series of the season with a 7-2 win over Bellarmine University.
The Eagles (8-10, 2-0 ASUN) saw Farrow go deep in the first inning with a fly ball that looked like it was off the end of the bat but instead continued to carry over the wall in right. FGCU would strike for three more homers in the fourth. First, Moya connected on a two-run blast that just missed hitting the scoreboard beyond the wall in right-center. Three batters later, Davalan went after the first pitch of the at-bat and uncorked a two-run blast to right. Finally, Farrow would connect again, this time driving a ball out to center to make it a 6-0 game.
FGCU scored without the benefit of a hit in the sixth.
Mac Moise walked, advanced to second when
Dalton Robinson was hit by a pitch, then advanced to third on a deep fly ball to right by Davalan. The FGCU catcher would sprint home during the next at-bat when a pitch got away and went to the backstop.
That would be more than enough runs for the FGCU pitching duo of
Justin Henschel and
Matt Kavanaugh. Henschel (1-1) gave up three hits and walked three batters while dialing up six strikeouts over a 79-pitch, five-inning performance. Kavanaugh would also throw 79 pitches in his four-inning outing to earn the save. He would give up a two-run homer in the ninth but otherwise did not allow a run while striking out five to get FGCU's first save of the season.
Bellarmine (1-17, 0-2 ASUN) out-hit the Eagles 8-6, with Will Aubel going 3-for-4.
The two teams will wrap up the series tomorrow at Swanson Stadium. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
