The Florida Gulf Coast University baseball team earned an 8-4 victory over Florida International University on Tuesday night in Miami. The midweek win improved FGCU to 7-9 on the young season.
FGCU starter Antony Ursitti found himself in some trouble in the first inning. The senior from Fort Myers, Fla. gave up a leadoff double and walked the next man to set the Panthers up with two on and no outs. The right-hander struck out FIU's number three hitter Kishon Frett, then induced a flyout and recorded another strikeout to end the frame without allowing a run.
The Eagles struck first in the top of the second. A
Jaret Nelson walk, a Samuel Vincent single and a double steal put runners on second and third with two outs.
Evan Dempsey was then hit by a 3-2 pitch to load the bases, leading to a
Mac Moise two-RBI single to left field, breaking the seal.
Harrison Povey knocked in one more with a base hit through the right side, giving the Eagles a 3-0 lead after an inning and a half.
Ursitti pitched a clean second and retired the first two batters he faced in the third. FIU then got on the board courtesy of a solo homerun over the right field fence by Cole Cleveland. Ursitti closed out the third and recorded his first one-two-three frame in the fourth, sending FGCU to the fifth inning with a 3-1 lead.
FGCU put two on with one out thanks to walks drawn by
Javier Gorostola and
Jon Embury in the fifth but could not scratch a run across. In the bottom half, Ursitti was replaced by
Levent Eldem on the mound for FGCU. The junior right-hander worked around a two out single and held the Eagles' lead at 3-1.
Ursitti's final line saw the senior pitch four innings, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out five and walked just two. The Cleveland homerun was the sole blemish on an otherwise dominant outing.
The Eagles extended their lead in the sixth. Dempsey and Moise walked with one out and executed FGCU's second double steal of the game. Povey followed with a two-RBI double to balloon the Eagles' advantage to 5-1, giving Povey three RBI on the day and a team-leading 22 on the season.
That four-run lead became a six-run lead in the seventh. Dempsey swatted FGCU's second two-RBI double in as many innings, scoring Embury, who was hit by a pitch, and Nelson, who reached on a single.
FIU clawed back in the bottom of the eighth. Alex Ulloa hit a three-run homerun to pull the Panthers to within four. The Eagles led 8-4 going into the ninth inning. Dempsey, who began the game in right field, was brought in to pitch, replacing Eldem after the homerun. The sophomore got the final two outs of the eighth and pitched a clean ninth to seal the road win for FGCU.
Eldem earned his first career win at the Division I level after spending the first two years of his career at the junior college level. Offensively, Povey led the way for FGCU with two hits and three RBI. Moise added a pair of knocks and drove in two for the Eagles.
FGCU (7-9, 0-0 ASUN) is back in action this weekend when it begins Atlantic Sun Conference play against Stetson. The Eagles head to DeLand, Fla. for a three-game weekend set, beginning Friday, March 14, at 6:30 p.m. against the Hatters.
