FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Atlantic Sun Conference's home run leader showcased exactly why he's in that position Friday afternoon. FGCU catcher Jon Embury blasted a 392-foot shot well beyond the left field wall to walk off Queens in a run-rule decision as the Eagles shutout the Royals, 11-0) in seven innings to claim a win in their conference opener.

FGCU (14-4, 1-0 ASUN) put up crooked numbers in four of the seven innings, scoring 11 runs on 14 hits, notching four extra-base hits. Embury was a large part of that, going 4-for-5 with four runs scored and three RBIs. He was one of four Eagles batters to register multiple hits against the Royals (4-14, 0-1) in the first game of a doubleheader.

That includes Evan Dempsey (3-0), who was 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. On the mound, the junior tossed his second complete game of the season, allowing only six hits, no walks and struck out 11 of the 27 batters he faced.

Matthew Eagen (1-3) was charged with the loss, yielding six runs on 10 hits while walking two and striking out three in five innings on the bump. Gibson Jones followed in relief, giving up five runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Of the six runners Queens stranded, only two advanced into scoring position. Charlie Marcantel and Hunter Huneycutt each posted 2-for-3 performances to lead the Royals.

Florida Gulf Coast opened the scoring in the first inning with Embury singling to left center, followed by Javier Gorostola's RBI double that scored Embury from first. Dempsey then doubled to left field, bringing home Gorostola. The Eagles led 2-0 after the first inning.

In the fourth inning, Wilfred Gonzalez was hit by a pitch and later scored on Gagnon's single through the right side, extending the Green & Blue's lead to 3-0.
 
The Eagles added two more runs in the fifth inning. Embury's single set the stage for a sacrifice fly by Gonzalez, scoring Embury. Comer's RBI single then brought home Dempsey, who had reached on an error, making it 5-0.

The sixth inning saw Florida Gulf Coast increase its lead with four runs. After Gagnon walked and Cole Lasher was hit by a pitch, Embury singled, scoring Gagnon. Dempsey's groundout brought home another run. Gonzalez tripled, scoring Embury, and Comer's single plated Gonzalez, pushing the lead to 9-0.

In the seventh inning, Embury hit a two-run homer, his ninth of the season, scoring Gagnon, who had been hit by a pitch, sealing an 11-0 victory for the Eagles over QUC.

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Game Notes:

• Evan Dempsey - Achieved at least 2 hits in 4 consecutive games.
• Dempsey - Drove in 2 runs in 3 consecutive games.
• Jaret Nelson - Recorded at least 2 hits for 2 consecutive games.
• Comer - Recorded at least 2 hits in 5 consecutive games.
• Gagnon - Achieved 1 run batted in for the first time this season.
• Gonzalez - Achieved a season-high total of 2 runs batted in.
• Gonzalez - Scored at least 2 runs in back-to-back games.
• Gorostola extended his program-best hitting streak to 36 games.
• The Eagles are now 14-4 in ASUN openers.

 
 
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