FORT MYERS, Fla. – Evan Dempsey worked six strong innings, and
Harrison Povey hit his 13th homer of the year as Florida Gulf Coast University defeated the University of North Florida 7-3 at Swanson Stadium to start an Atlantic Sun Conference baseball series.
"I've been impressed with Evan ever since we moved him into the starting lineup," FGCU head coach
Dave Tollett said. "He gives us a chance to win every time he steps on that mound. I think the coaching staff believes in him, but I think his team believes in him also."
Moved into the starting rotation in ASUN play, Dempsey improved to 3-1 on the season and lowered his ERA to 1.48. He allowed just one unearned run over six innings of work with a pair of strikeouts.
Dempsey saw his offense provide the first run of the game in the bottom of the opening inning. With runners on the corners,
Cayden Hessemyer beat out a potential double play ball, allowing
Jake McKee to score and give the Eagles a 1-0 advantage. The cushion doubled in the second as McKee singled home
Jaret Nelson for a 2-0 lead.
UNF (22-24, 10-12 ASUN) scored an unearned run in the third to claw within one, but a pair of extra-base hits an inning later restored the two-run lead. Nelson doubled into the corner in left with two outs, then
Nathan Gagnon followed with a triple into the corner in right for an RBI, making it 3-1.
Povey provided the power in the fifth to stretch the lead to four. The senior connected on a 1-1 offering to send a long drive to right-center. The ball touched down 381 feet away for a two-run homer to make it a 5-1 contest.
FGCU (19-25, 9-13 ASUN) kept applying the pressure, scoring a pair of insurance runs in the eighth.
Mac Moise singled home Dempsey with one out in the inning, then
Tyler Herb followed one batter later with an RBI knock to make it 7-1 for the home side.
Preston Rogers worked the final three innings to earn the save. The Ospreys got the tying run to the plate in the ninth thanks to an FGCU error, but Rogers got the final out via a strikeout, giving the Eagles the victory.
The win, coupled with West Georgia's loss to Stetson, gives the Eagles the fourth spot in the ASUN Graphite Division. FGCU now sits just one game behind UNF for third in the division standings.
The two teams will continue the series Saturday at Swanson Stadium. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
