FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Florida Gulf Coast University baseball team fell to the University of South Florida 11-5 Wednesday in a midweek contest at Swanson Stadium.
Eagles' starter
Anthony Ursitti sent the Bulls down in order in the top of the first inning, but USF struck in the second. Doubles by Marcus Brodil and Matthew Buffington gave South Florida a 3-0 lead. That advantage grew to 4-0 with a sacrifice fly in the third.
FGCU answered in the bottom half of the third. Singles by
Vincent Samuel and
Evan Dempsey, plus a walk by
Jason Roberts loaded the bases with one out.
Mac Moise followed with a bases clearing double into the left center field gap, bringing the Eagles to within one run. That swing gave Moise 18 RBI on the year, tying the Eagles' catcher with
Robert Moya for the third best mark on the team.
The Bulls went on to extend their lead right away, scoring two runs in the top of the fourth, one on a groundout and another on Ryan Pruitt's two-out RBI single. FGCU put two runners on in the bottom of the fourth but could not scratch a run across.
After both sides went quietly in the fifth inning, USF added to its 6-3 lead in the sixth. The Bulls loaded the bases with nobody out and scored four runs on a single and two fielder's choices, extending their lead to 10-3.
FGCU's next scoring chance came in the bottom of the seventh. Moise smoked his second double of the night to lead off the frame, this one down the left field line. Moise's pair of two-baggers doubled the fifth year's season total. However, Moise was stranded on base and the Eagles' deficit remained seven after seven innings.
The two teams traded solo homeruns in the ninth. FGCU's
Connor Fosnow, a junior college transfer, went yard for the first time at the Division I level to drop the Eagles' deficit to 11-4. The Green and Blue loaded the bases with two outs and scratched one more across when
Tyler Herb was hit by a pitch. That was all the Eagles would get. The Bulls stranded three to close out an 11-5 victory.
Moise led the way offensively for FGCU with two doubles, three RBI and a walk. Samuel also contributed two hits-a single and a double-and a walk. USF's Adan Longoria earned the win after pitching 1.1 scoreless innings out of the South Florida bullpen, improving his record to 2-0. Ursitti took the loss for FGCU, dropping the senior to 0-2 on the year.
FGCU (8-13, 1-2 ASUN) returns to action Friday against the University of West Georgia. The three-game Atlantic Sun Conference series begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. at Swanson Stadium.
