FORT MYERS, Fla. – Fans of good pitching will want to make their way out to Swanson Stadium on Wednesday evening as the 6:30 p.m. contest on the diamond features two of the better pitching staffs in the country early on this season.

Minnesota (3-0) brings a pitching staff ranked 10^th nationally in ERA (1.50), while FGCU (3-0) has a staff of hurlers have combined for a national-leading 57 strikeouts in just three games, posting a school record for strikeouts in a three-game span.

Projected Starters
FGCU: RHP Preston Rogers (0-0, 0.00 ERA)
Minnesota: RHP Ben Gregory (0-0, 0.00 ERA)

Fans thawing in Fort Myers from the Land of 10,000 Lakes will see a familiar face before the start of the game as Minnesota Twins bullpen coach and former pitcher LaTroy Hawkins will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. The Swanson Stadium concession stands will be offering special S'mores cookies for sale just for Wednesday's game.

Wednesday's game marks the fifth time the two teams will meet on the diamond. FGCU dominated in a 13-5 decision the last time the two teams met, the first win for the Eagles in four tries. All previous meetings in the series history also came at Swanson Stadium. The Eagles enter Wednesday's contest with a 17-25-1 all-time record against current Big Ten programs.

The chance of an offensive explosion isn't out of the realm of possibility either. FGCU showed on Saturday and Sunday that their bats can be extremely effective with 19-18 and 10-6 wins over North Dakota State. Jon Embury currently ranks third in the nation in doubles while Jeremy Comer ranks 21^st in the nation in home runs.

For Minnesota, Eason Richter ranks sixth in the nation in hits and ninth in doubles while Charlie Sutherland ranks 21^st nationally in home runs. The Golden Gophers are coming off a weekend in DeLand where they dominated Stetson in an 11-5 decision then beat St. John's and Ball State with identical 8-0 scores.

Naples Comprehensive Health (NCH), a proud sponsor of FGCU Athletics, delivers per- sonalized care to 40,000-plsu patients yearly with two hospitals, five ERs and 1000+ physicians in Southwest Florida. That's good news for Eagles fans as this year's install- ment of FGCU baseball will have your Apple Watch notifying you of an increased heart rate. Already through just three games this season, the Green & Blue have three come- from-behind wins as FGCU trailed in the seventh inning or later in all three games against North Dakota State. For anyone complaining, Maximus Decimus Meridius has a question for you..

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