FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University hit four solo home runs, including two from
Harrison Povey, as the Eagles defeated Queens University of Charlotte 8-1 Friday night at Swanson Stadium in Atlantic Sun Conference baseball action.
The Eagles (17-24, 6-10 ASUN) broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth with solo home runs from
Jon Embury and
Jaret Nelson. An RBI single through the left side by starting pitcher
Evan Dempsey plated
Jake McKee with two outs in the inning, giving FGCU a 4-1 lead after three.
Povey hit his first home run of the game in unconventional fashion in the fourth. The FGCU centerfielder hit a high fly to center that was lost in the dusk by the Queens centerfielder. The ball careened off the top of the wall in center and bounced back toward the infield. Povey turned on his motor leaving the box and slid in safely before the throw could reach the plate, making it 5-1.
"About five minutes before I was out in center, and there was a ball hit to me and I couldn't see it at all," Povey said. "As soon as I hit the ball, I knew there was no chance he saw it. I was 0-100 right out of the box and saw him raise his arms up that he couldn't see it."
Povey provided the power in the home half of the seventh to start a three-run surge. The ball to right went 378 feet, about 20 less than his inside-the-park shot, but this one allowed Povey to trot home as the Eagles made it 6-1.
"They had been pounding me inside all night," Povey said. "It was a slider inside and I was ready for it. I didn't have to run as hard on that one."
Later in the inning, Nelson made it a three-RBI night with his single to left, plating Embury and
Cayden Hessemyer to make it 8-1.
That was more than enough support for Dempsey, who allowed just one run in seven innings on the mound. The sophomore allowed five hits and two walks while striking out six, improving to 2-1 on the season.
Preston Rogers pitched a perfect eighth inning and
Leo Giannoni struck out the side in the ninth to secure the victory.
FGCU finished with 15 hits, the second-most in a game this season. The four homers tied the season-high set in a 14-12 win at Stetson on March 14.
The two teams will be back in action Saturday afternoon to continue the ASUN series. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
