FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University baseball battled Florida Atlantic to an 8-3 defeat at Hammomd Stadium on Tuesday.
The Owls rolled into Hammond aiming to right a four-game skid. FAU (20-9) did just that in a building rematch by scoring a pair of runs in each of the first three innings, taking a commanding 6-0 lead. Prior to the April 1 matchup with the Eagles, FAU had dropped four straight after suffering a 3-2 walk-off defeat just a week ago to FGCU at Swanson Stadium.
FGCU managed to register just one hit through four complete innings. Aidan Corn tried to get the offense started in the second by delivering a one-out double off the wall.
In the fifth, Cayden Hessemyer also doubled. Two batters later, hometown kid Jake McKee singled to centerfield to drive in Hessemyer, finally putting the Eagles on the board down 8-1. FGCU's next hit would not occur until the eighth inning.
Robert Moya was near inches from a 406-foot, two-run home run in the eighth. Moya drove the ball 405 feet directly off the top of the wall, and the ballpark contained the potential shot to just a RBI double - scoring Harrison Povey to cut into the deficit.
FGCU trailed 8-2 heading into the ninth inning. The Eagles put two runners on with just one away to make things interesting in the final frame. FGCU soon stared down its final out after an ensuing strikeout. Povey lifted a two-out routine ball to shallow right field in which the FAU second baseman misjudged the falling draw. The ball fell to the ground untouched for FGCU's seventh hit of the day, allowing Tyler Herb to score.
Povey finished the night 2-for-5 to lead all Eagles offensively. Three of FGCU's seven hits were doubles. Tuesday's final was snagged in foul territory on the right field tarp to eliminate FGCU's comeback hopes and its second walkoff in a week against FAU. FGCU dropped to 10-19 overall in the loss.
FGCU used eight different pitchers on Tuesday. Ethan Mattison earned the starting nod and was credited with a loss. Florida Atlantic recorded 11 hits on FGCU's pitching staff, who also fanned 11 Owls.
The Eagles now host Jacksonville for a three-game home series at Swanson Stadium beginning this Friday at 6:30 p.m.
