FORT MYERS, Fla. - Every spot in the batting order scored at least one run as Florida Gulf Coast University opened a three-game series at Swanson Stadium by steamrolling Fairfield University 19-5 Friday night.
After a leadoff homer by Fairfield to start the game, the Eagles (5-8) answered back with a pair of two-run homers off the bat of
Ian Farrow and
Javier Gorostola to take a 4-1 lead after a frame. Five more runs crossed the plate in the second as
Jacob Lojewski delivered a two-run single, Gorostola drew a bases loaded walk, and
Armani Newton punched a two-run single through the right side.
Another solo homer drew Fairfield (1-11) to within seven, but
Evan Dempsey's single to right scored
Mac Moise to restore the eight-run lead, 10-2, through three innings. FGCU would take advantage of Stags miscues in the field to score four runs in the fourth, with the big blow coming off
Charles Davalan's triple to left to score two.
Robert Moya pushed the lead to a baker's dozen as he reached on a fielder's choice with the bases loaded to score a run. A two-run homer for the Stags made it 15-4 for the seventh inning stretch, but the Eagles kept the crowd on their feet in the seventh with two more runs on a
Derek Lopez RBI triple and another Dempsey RBI single. The fourth Fairfield homer of the game made it 17-5 in the eighth, but a Lojewski RBI double and a bases loaded hit batter with Lopez at the plate ended the scoring with the Eagles taking the win by 14.
The two teams combined to throw over 400 pitches in the contest.
Lucas Hartman worked an effective four innings in his first start in an FGCU uniform, giving up two runs on solo homers and striking out seven. With Hartman falling just short of the five inning threshold to get the win,
Cameron Bye (1-0) would get credited with the victory after throwing two scoreless innings with four walks and four strikeouts.
Dylan Wolff gave up a pair of homers but pitched two solid innings with two strikeouts.
Dalton Robinson worked a scoreless ninth to close the night for the FGCU pitching staff. The quartet's 14 strikeouts marked a season-best for FGCU pitchers in a game in 2024.
The Green & Blue batters set a season-high in runs scored, tied the season high for hits (18), and set a season-best mark for RBI.
Colin McVeigh (0-2) took the loss for the Stags with nine runs allowed in 1.2 innings. In all, seven Fairfield pitchers combined to get through the contest.
The two teams will reconvene to continue the series Saturday at 2 p.m.
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