FORT MYERS, Fla. – Evan Dempsey hit his first home run of the season as Florida Gulf Coast University dropped a 4-2 decision to Queens University of Charlotte in Atlantic Sun Conference action at Swanson Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The Eagles (18-25, 8-13 ASUN) fell behind after two pitches due to a leadoff homer by the Royals (6-35, 4-17 ASUN). After Queens manufactured a pair of runs in the fifth, the Royals loaded the bases in the sixth, but reliever
Anthony Ursitti escaped the jam with only one run scoring, keeping the deficit at four.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles finally broke through. With the bases loaded and two outs,
Jaret Nelson hit a slow chopper down the third base line that died before reaching the dirt at the bag.
Cayden Hessemyer came home to score, putting the Eagles on the board, 4-1. Queens escaped the bases-loaded situation with the lead still intact.
In the seventh, the Eagles got another run back right after the stretch. With one out, Dempsey turned on a 1-1 offering for his first homer of the campaign, a 421-foot shot to right. The blast brought FGCU within two, 4-2.
Hessemyer doubled to start the eighth, and FGCU got two men in scoring position with two outs after a walk and a steal by Nelson, but the Eagles couldn't break through. In the ninth,
Jake McKee led off with a line drive single, but he was eliminated on a double play one pitch later, allowing the Royals to escape with the win.
Ryland Bozenhard (2-2) worked into the sixth for the Eagles, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks and three strikeouts. Ursitti allowed three walks but fanned three in his two innings of work.
Preston Rogers worked two scoreless innings for FGCU, giving up just one hit while striking out three.
Landry Juricka (2-7) earned the win for Queens, going six innings and giving up a run on eight hits. Ryan Brown, who hit the leadoff homer to start the game for the Royals, pitched the final three innings to earn the save.
Despite the loss, the Eagles moved into a tie for fourth in the ASUN Graphite Division with a pair of wins over the weekend. FGCU will host North Florida next weekend at Swanson Stadium, with the Ospreys just two games ahead in the standings. First pitch Friday night is set for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at
FGCUTickets.com or by calling 1-866-FGCU-TIX (342-8849).
