Florida Gulf Coast University pounded out 16 hits as the Eagles dropped a 9-8 decision to Florida Atlantic University in baseball action from Boca Raton, Florida Tuesday afternoon.
Tyler Herb had three hits to pace the FGCU offense.
Evan Dempsey,
Cayden Hessemyer,
Jaret Nelson,
Jon Embury,
Mac Moise and
Vincent Samuel each had two hits a piece for the visitors.
Nathan Gagnon's first of two sacrifice flies in the game gave the Eagles a 1-0 lead in the second, but FAU (34-18) answered back with three runs in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. A run from a Nelson single in the fifth made it 3-2, and the Eagles (24-27) took the lead an inning later on a two-run double by Dempsey and a sacrifice fly by Hessemyer.
A bases loaded walk helped FAU make it 5-4, but the Eagles would tack on three runs in the top of the ninth to grab an 8-4 advantage. A Gagnon sacrifice fly was followed by a Moise RBI single and an RBI double by Samuel; however, FAU would come up with five runs in the ninth to take the win.
Logan Baisley worked the first 1.2 innings for FGCU, with
Hunter Possehl pitching 4.1 scoreless innings with six strikeouts.
Leo Giannoni worked 1.2 innings and allowed a run, with
Ethan Mattison getting the final out of the eighth to preserve the lead.
Jordan Vera (2-7) pitched the ninth.
Winners of eight of their last nine Atlantic Sun Conference games, the Eagles will close the regular season with a three-game set against ASUN foe Stetson. Thursday's first pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. at Swanson Stadium
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