FORT MYERS, Fla. - Florida Gulf Coast University's bullpen combined to allow just two runs in 5.2 innings of work, but Xavier University used seven runs in the first four innings to earn a 9-5 win over the Eagles at Swanson Stadium Saturday afternoon.
FGCU (3-7) saw
Connor O'Hara,
Cameron Bye, and
William Haberstock each pitch a scoreless inning over the final three frames. Haberstock struck out the side in the top of the ninth to keep momentum on FGCU's side for a late rally.
Down 9-1 entering the seventh, the Eagles started to string together some hits. After an
Ian Farrow double,
Robert Moya singled into left center to bring home the runner in scoring position and cut into the lead. Then with two men out,
Harrison Povey singled to left on the first pitch he saw to extend the inning.
David Parker dumped a single into left center to score Moya for a 9-3 game, then
Javier Gorostola followed with an RBI base knock to make it 9-4.
In the eighth, FGCU struck for another run with two men out. Farrow connected on a 1-1 pitch for an opposite field homer, making it 9-5 and pulling the Eagles within reach. That would be as close as FGCU got as the Eagles would leave a runner stranded in the eighth and ninth.
Xavier (6-4) got a four RBI day from Aedan Anderson, who connected on a three-run homer in the first to put the Musketeers into the lead for good. Logan Schmidt (2-0) earned the win with three scoreless innings of relief.
Justin Henschel took the loss for the Eagles with seven runs allowed in 3.1 innings.
The two teams will meet Sunday afternoon at 1:00 for the series finale.
