FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU created late-inning magic once again as a
Jeremy Comer home run and a pair of doubles by
Jon Embury helped ignite the Eagles in a 10-6 win over North Dakota State on Sunday afternoon.
The win for FGCU (3-0) secures the series sweep to open the year, happening after the Eagles scored nine of their 10 runs over the final three innings. NDSU (0-3) was subjected to stellar pitching, striking out 17 times in the game and 56 times over the course of the series.
Comer's two-run home run, a shot to left center that traveled 403 feet, came in the sixth with the Green & Blue trailing 5-1. FGCU added one more in the seventh with an RBI sacrifice bunt courtesy of
Jaret Nelson.
"I saw a fastball deep," Comer said of his home run. I knew he was going to be throwing a fastball there, so I just tried to stay on it and ended up hitting it to left center,"
Florida Gulf Coast's decisive eighth inning turned the tide against the Bison, as the Eagles executed a six-run rally.
Javier Gorostola initiated the scoring with an RBI single, followed by Nelson's walk that loaded the bases. Embury delivered a two-run double, and Comer capped the surge with a two-RBI single.
Earlier, the Eagles chipped away at NDSU's initial lead with
Tyler Herb's RBI single in the third inning and Comer's two-run homer in the sixth.
Hyatt Richardson (1-0) played a crucial role for Florida Gulf Coast, securing the win with 2 2/3 innings pitched, allowing one earned run on four hits, and striking out three. Anthony Pardo (0-1), who entered in the eighth with a save opportunity and a 6-4 lead, was charged with the loss after allowing six runs on four hits while facing eight batters.
"We're never down and out of this," Comer said following another comeback win. "We have such a good group of guys, hitting-wise and pitching-wise. We know that regardless of what's thrown at us, we're never out of it."
That unrelenting spirit will be challenged Wednesday evening when FGCU hosts Minnesota (3-0) at Swanson Stadium at 6:30 p.m. The Golden Gophers are coming off three dominant wins at a tournament in DeLand, with victories over Stetson (11-5), St. John's (8-0) and Ball State (8-0).
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Game Notes
- FGCU now leads the all-time series over North Dakota State, 5-0. All five games have taken place at Swanson Stadium.
- The Eagles pitching staff registered 17 strikeouts in Sunday's game, bringing their series total to 56.
- Jeremy Comer hit his second home run of the season and posted four RBIs overall.
- Hunter Possehl posted a career-high 10 strikeouts.
- Jon Embury registered at least two hits in two consecutive games. His two doubles marks a career-high.
