FORT MYERS, Fla. -
Javier Gorostola connected on a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 10th as Florida Gulf Coast University walked off with a 3-2 victory over Jacksonville University Friday night at Swanson Stadium in Atlantic Sun Conference action.
In a classic game between two long-standing in-state rivals, the Eagles (21-22, 13-9) earned their second walk-off win of the season, and for the second time, it was a freshman that did the job. On a 1-0 pitch, Gorostola connected on a long drive to left that cleared the fence and touched off a celebration from the third base dugout to the plate. The blast gave the Green & Blue a win to open the series against the team on top of the ASUN standings.
FGCU took a 1-0 lead in the first as
Charles Davalan doubled off the wall in right, then
Mac Moise doubled into the gap in left center to plate the freshman with the game's opening salvo. In the third, Davalan would strike again as he doubled off the wall in right in nearly the same spot as the first. This time, he would make it home himself as he stole third, then came home on a throwing error to make it 2-0.
Both starting pitchers were excellent, with
Davian Garcia allowing only one earned run in his six innings on the mound; however, the Dolphins (22-21, 15-7) would score twice in the fifth without the benefit of a hit to knot the score 2-2.
Meanwhile, Richard Long would work six scoreless innings without allowing a hit after the third to the Eagles. Both teams would go to the bullpen in the seventh, and both would find their pitching to be equally as effective.
Jake Bunz gave up two hits in two innings, while Tommy Allman (1-2) allowed just a walk and a single in the eighth in his outing through regulation. Allman would be helped by his defense to end the eighth as
Evan Dempsey would single with two men out, but FGCU would have a runner thrown out trying to return to second after a big turn around the base.
Justin Henschel (3-2) worked a perfect ninth and 10th for the Eagles to pick up the win and set the stage for Gorostola's heroics.
In FGCU's first walk-off win of the season, it was Dempsey who singled back up the middle with two men out in the ninth to beat USF. Tonight, again against an in-state foe, it was Gorostola who delivered the final blow.
The Eagles will look to take the series tomorrow at Swanson Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m.
