DELAND, Fla. - A strong battle of pitching went against Florida Gulf Coast University Wednesday in Pool A of the Atlantic Sun Conference Championship as the Eagles fell 4-3 to Kennesaw State University at Melching FIeld.
The Eagles (30-25) saw their winning streak snapped at six; however, the team is still in solid position to make the championship bracket of the ASUN Championship. If the Eagles defeat Stetson Friday afternoon at 2:30, they will clinch a spot in the ASUN's final four. Before that, if Stetson knocks off Austin Peay Thursday morning, then the Eagles will qualify by virtue of beating APSU in the opening game of Pool A.
FGCU trailed 3-0 after two innings as the Owls (31-23) strung together five hits in the frame off of
Davian Garcia (5-3). That would be the only rough inning the ASUN First Team member had as he allowed just a single run on five hits over the next five innings.
The Eagles got back in the contest with a run in the fifth as
Javier Gorostola lifted a sacrifice fly to center that scored
Evan Dempsey. KSU would respond with a run in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead by three.
In the eighth, the Eagles mounted a charge that brought the No. 4-seed back into the contest. Two replay reviews would have a pivotal role in the inning, with one going against FGCU and one going for the Eagles. With a man on first and no one out,
Charles Davalan ripped a pitch down the line in right that easily cleared the fence. The FGCU bench felt it was a homer, but it was ruled foul on the field. The shot was so high into the cloud-stained sky that the ball couldn't be seen on replay review and the call stood. The Eagles still forged ahead, with another replay review to come. Before that, consecutive two-out singles by
Ian Farrow and
Robert Moya resulted in
Trevor Kole coming home to make it 4-2.
Evan Dempsey then stepped in and sent a high pop the opposite way down the line in left. With the wind blowing in from left, the ball would drop before any of the pursuing KSU fielders could get to it. Initially ruled foul, the call was overturned on replay review and Dempsey was awarded an RBI double to make it a one-run game.
That would be as close as the Eagles would get. FGCU wouldn't be able to get another hit to tie the game in the eighth. Then in the ninth, two rockets off of FGCU bats ended up being snared by Owls' gloves, giving the win to the No. 2-seed.
Farrow and Kole each had multi-hit games for FGCU, with Farrow and Dempsey recording the only extra-base hits for the Green and Blue.
After an off day, FGCU returns to the field Friday against the No. 3-seeded and host Hatters.
