FORT MYERS, Fla. –
Harrison Povey belted his 15th home run of the season and three pitchers combined for a shutout as Florida Gulf Coast University defeated Stetson University 4-0 on Saturday afternoon in the Atlantic Sun Conference regular-season finale.
The Eagles (26-28, 16-14 ASUN) became the first team in the ASUN Graphite Division to win a series against Stetson this season. The Hatters (37-19, 24-6 ASUN), who had already secured the top seed in the division, suffered three of their six conference losses to FGCU.
FGCU struck early, plating two runs in the third inning.
Jake McKee's bloop double down the right-field line put two runners in scoring position with one out.
Evan Dempsey followed with a groundout to second that scored
Nathan Gagnon. One batter later,
Cayden Hessemyer bounced a high chopper up the middle for an RBI single, scoring McKee to make it 2-0.
Povey added to the lead in the fourth with a towering 421-foot solo shot to right field. After two walks and a Stetson pitching change, Gagnon drove in the final run with a single to right, extending the lead to 4-0.
That was more than enough support for the Eagles' pitching staff.
Chase Kriebel started and went 4.1 innings, allowing just two hits and two walks.
Logan Baisley (1-1) earned the win with 3.2 innings of scoreless relief, giving up only one hit and one walk.
Ryland Bozenhard closed it out with a clean ninth inning, sealing the shutout and closing Swanson Stadium for the season.
With the regular season complete, FGCU heads into the ASUN Championship as the No. 3 seed from the Graphite Division. The Eagles will face Lipscomb, the No. 2 seed from the Gold Division, in the opening round Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in DeLand.
