FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University baseball hosts Jacksonville for an Atlantic Sun Conference home series at Swanson Stadium beginning this Friday.
Game one on Friday is scheduled for a 6:30 p.m. first pitch on ESPN+. Saturday's game two is set for 2 p.m. on ESPN+, and the series finale is Sunday at 1 p.m.
FGCU (10-19) enters its third ASUN series of the season, sitting at an unfamiliar 2-7 overall in conference action. FGCU has had eight straight winning seasons since 2017, with 30 or more wins in six of those campaigns. FGCU recorded 40-plus victories in both 2017 and 2023, but for the first time in program history, FCGU has not won an ASUN series three series into the conference slate.
FGCU has won at least two of three ASUN series to begin a season in 13 of the 17 years as a member of the ASUN, excluding 2020 due to COVID-19. This time last year, FGCU was 5-4 in the league, and the Eagles were 7-2 three consecutive seasons prior to 2024.
In 2017, FGCU started off 4-5 and still won the ASUN Tournament Championship as a three-seed, punching its ticket to an NCAA Regional in Chapel Hill. Prior to 2025, 4-5 marked the worst start in conference play. The Eagles have done it twice. FGCU also started 4-5 in 2012 and still finished with a winning record at 15-12.
FGCU will have its work cut out in aiming to right the ship against a 16-12, 6-3 Jacksonville squad. Jacksonville just gave No. 4 Florida State all it can handle in a Tuesday midway matchup. The Seminoles survived 11-10.
However, FGCU has historically fared well against the Dolphins. FGCU is 38-23 all-time against JU and has won the last six meetings, sweeping JU in Fort Myers last season. There were two one-run affairs during the last series, including a 10-inning win for the Eagles.
FGCU has won seven of the last 10 against JU, and the Dolphins' last win occurred in game one of a 2023 home series in Fort Myers. This weekend's series will mark the third consecutive series in which the Eagles got to face the Dolphins at the friendly confines of Swanson Stadium.
Povey, who is hitting .275 this season, leads the Eagles in the home run department with eight, currently ranking third in the ASUN. Povey paced FGCU offense in the loss to FAU on Tuesday at Hammond Stadium, finishing the night 2-for-5. He has 49 round-trippers in his career and is chasing Joe Kinker to be the all-time home runs leader at FGCU.
Look for Evan Dempsey and Mac Moise to continue to take some for the team. Dempsey has been hit by pitches 13 times this season, ranking second in the ASUN and 24th nationally in the category. Moise has been hit 10 times for third overall in the ASUN.
JU will counter with one of the best pitchers in the conference and the nation. Richard Long is 5-2 this season with a 1.64 ERA. On the base paths, Jadan Bastain's 16 stolen bases pace the league and stands 39th overall in the nation.
