The Florida Gulf Coast University baseball team fell 5-2 tonight to conference rival the University of North Florida at Harmon Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida.
Following a scoreless first inning, North Florida (16-10, 5-2 ASUN) wasted no time getting on the board in the bottom of the second as it pushed four runs across on four hits to take a 4-0 lead.
The Eagles (9-17, 1-6 ASUN) got one of the runs back in the fifth when
Mac Moise opened up the inning with a walk. He later moved to second when
Harrison Povey was hit by a pitch with no outs. A double play got two fast outs for North Florida, but it allowed Moise to move to third. FGCU was able to take advantage of an error by the shortstop on the next play, which allowed
Aidan Corn to reach first and Moise to cross the plate to make it a 4-1 game.
FGCU cut the lead to three in the top of the eighth when
Vincent Samuel singled to reach first, then stole both second and third with two down. He later scored off
Jake McKee's RBI single to make it 4-2.
North Florida added an insurance run in its half of the eighth to make it 5-2 before letting the bullpen secure the victory in the ninth.
Eagle starting pitcher
Chris Diaz went six innings, allowing four runs on nine hits while striking out four. He is now 1-2 on the season.
Samuel and Povey each tallied two hits while Samuel registered a run score.
Evan Dempsey,
Robert Moya, Moise, McKee,
Nathan Gagnon, and
Tyler Herb all registered a hit apiece for the Eagles.
FGCU is back in action tomorrow with a doubleheader to complete the series against North Florida. First pitch is set for 2 p.m. in Jacksonville and can be seen on ESPN+.
