Florida Gulf Coast University scored two runs in the top of the seventh to tie the game, but Florida International University walked the game off in the bottom of the inning, taking a 5-4 win over the Eagles Wednesday night in Miami, Fla.
The Eagles (15-16) trailed 4-2 entering the final inning of the shortened game after the Panthers plated two in the bottom of the sixth to break a 2-2 tie. After seven straight pitches missed the strike zone, the Green & Blue had runners on first and second via a walk and a hit batter. Two strikeouts later, the Eagles were down to their last out. Down to his last strike,
Harrison Povey drew a walk to load the bases for
Mac Moise. The senior would work a 3-1 count before drawing a walk and earning an RBI to pull FGCU within one. Then with
Evan Dempsey down to his final strike, the freshman hit a high chopper that beat the shifted infield to drive in the tying run. It would be FGCU's only hit of the inning, but the Eagles had made it a 4-4 game.
Unfortunately for FGCU, the rally would go for naught as FIU (18-15) loaded the bases with one out and scored the winning run on a walk-off single. The 5-4 decision snapped FGCU's three-game winning streak.
The early stages of the game were a battle of the arms.
Cameron Bye struck out three batters in two innings of work to start on the mound for the Eagles, with
Matt Kavanaugh striking out a pair and issuing just a walk in an inning of work. FGCU would take a 1-0 lead in the fourth as Povey pulled a single through the right side to score
Charles Davalan with the first of his two runs in the game.
FIU would use a pair of solo homers in the bottom of the fourth to take its first lead, 2-1. FGCU bounced back an inning later as
Derek Lopez beat out a would-be double play ball to score Dempsey and tie the contest.
The Eagles will be back in action Friday in DeLand as they take on Stetson University. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
