FORT MYERS, Fla. –
Jon Embury's ninth-inning home run propels the Florida Gulf Coast University baseball to a 5-3 conference win over visiting Jacksonville University this afternoon at Swanson Stadium. The Eagles take the series 2-0 and look to go for the sweep Sunday in the final game of the series, which starts at 1 p.m.
With both teams going scoreless in the first two innings, Jacksonville (16-14, 6-5 ASUN) struck first to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the third.
FGCU (12-19, 4-7 ASUN) cut the lead in half in the bottom of the fourth, and it started what
Mac Moise walked on four straight pitches with two outs. He then stole second and then scored on
Evan Dempsey's RBI single through the right side to make it 2-1. Dempsey later moved to second on a wild pitch before the inning ended on a lineout.
The Eagles tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh when Dempsey scored off a sacrifice fly by
Cayden Hessemyer. Dempsey reached base after being hit by a pitch to start, then moved to third on a throwing error by the pitcher.
The Dolphins used a one-out solo home run to retake the lead in the ninth to go up 3-2.
FGCU put the tying and winning runs on when Moise walked and Dempsey singled, all with one down in its half of the ninth. Following a lineout and down to their final out, Embury won the game on a three-run home run. Saturday's thrilling victory marked the first ASUN series in which the Eagles have one this season.
Dempsey finished the day going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI, while Embury closed out the contest going 1-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs and a run scored.
Dempsey, who started on the mound, allowed two runs on seven hits over six innings. Reliever Dylan Cheely picked up the win to move to 2-1 on the year. He allowed a run on three hits in three innings of work. Both pitchers struck out three hitters each.
