FORT MYERS, Fla. –
Tyler Herb delivered a clutch RBI single in the eighth inning and
Ashton Pocol struck out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth as Florida Gulf Coast University edged the University of North Florida, 4-3, on Sunday to complete a sweep in Atlantic Sun Conference baseball action.
The win capped a successful 6-1 homestand for the Eagles (21-25, 11-13 ASUN), who have surged into third place in the ASUN Graphite Division with six conference games remaining. FGCU began the stretch in fifth place but now sits one game ahead of UNF and two games clear of West Georgia.
"We've played well in the last seven for sure," FGCU head coach
Dave Tollett said. "We control our own destiny now. We don't have to hope for anybody else to help us, and that's what you always want as a team."
For the second straight game, FGCU broke a late tie with an eighth-inning rally.
Mac Moise led off with a walk and advanced to second on a single to right by
Harrison Povey. After a strikeout, Herb stepped up with a plan.
"Jaret [Nelson] always grinds during his at-bats," Herb said. "He gives me a good look at the pitcher, and that helps me stay locked in."
Herb, who had been adjusting throughout the game, stayed back on a changeup and lined a single over the shortstop into left field. Moise raced around third to score the go-ahead run.
"I knew I had to make an adjustment," Herb said. "They weren't pitching me inside, so I just stayed with the ball and went with it."
Pocol, who had allowed an inherited runner to score in the seventh, came back strong in the ninth. He struck out the first batter looking, induced a flyout, and then froze the final hitter with a breaking ball to seal the win and the sweep.
FGCU opened the scoring in the first inning when Nelson drew a bases-loaded walk. After UNF tied it in the third and took the lead in the fifth, the Eagles responded with RBI doubles from
Jake McKee and
Evan Dempsey to reclaim the lead.
McKee led the offense with three of FGCU's nine hits. Dempsey and Povey also recorded multi-hit games. On the mound,
Ryland Bozenhard turned in a strong start, allowing two runs on two hits over 6.1 innings.
Chase Kriebel allowed one run in relief, and Pocol earned the win with 2.1 innings of dominant work, striking out four.
The Eagles will look to carry their momentum into Tuesday's nonconference matchup at Florida Atlantic. First pitch in Boca Raton is set for 6:30 p.m.
