FORT MYERS, Fla. – When FGCU's
Javier Gorostola stepped to the plate in the sixth inning against Queens Saturday afternoon, a lot was at stake: his 37-game hitting streak (he was 0-for-2), a team win (the game was tied, 2-2) and FGCU's first three-game sweep over Queens (in jeopardy at the time).
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After that plate appearance, there was not much else to question. By delivering a sharp single through the left side, Gorostola drove in
Wilfred Gonzalez, kept his now 38-game hitting streak alive and regained the lead for FGCU (16-4, 3-0 Atlantic Sun) in what would become a 4-2 victory over Queens (4-16, 0-3).
Jaret Nelson's 404-foot home run to right center in the seventh would add the fourth, and final, run for the Eagles.
"In reality, it's pretty cool – all the posts and everything, Gorostola said of the hitting streak. "But when I'm in the game, I don't like to think about it. I just go in there, have my approach, and whatever happens after that, I can't control, except for putting the bat on the ball. Whatever happens after that isn't in my hands, so I just go up there, get my approach, and hit."
The win not only secured FGCU's first three-game sweep over the Royals, but marked the seventh come-from-behind win this season for an Eagles team that continues to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
Queens may have briefly taken a lead in the top of the sixth – their only lead of the weekend – but they could not overcome the 12 strikeouts the Royals were subjected to in the game or the 33 strikeouts they fell prey to over the full three-game series. QUC's pitchers were not so fortunate.
Saturday's win capped a series where FGCU hit .330 as a team, out-scored the Royals 17-3, out-hit Queens 32-17 and received 17 free passes (seven walks, six hit-by-pitches and four QUC errors) while giving up only six.
And if you think that is impressive, you are going to want to sit down before reading
Jon Embury's stat line. Not only did Embury score the tying run before Gorostola stepped to the plate for his RBI single, the Eagles' catcher hit .643 over the three-game series while knocking nine hits in 14 at-bats, scoring five runs, tallying five RBIs and posting a slugging percentage of .929.
"I try to simplify things and realize that I don't have to hit a home run when guys are on," Embury said of his thought process at the plate. "Sometimes I do, but I just know I have to do my job for the team. I just want to square the ball up and put it in play."
Gonzalez, who scored the winning run, was 2-for-4 on the day.
Jaret Nelson finished with a 2-for-3 performance and
Jeremy Comer posted a 2-for-3 performance at the plate.
Preston Rogers (2-2) was credited with the win after allowing one run on three hits.
Ashton Pocol (2) earned the save after retiring the only batter he faced.
For Queens, starter Adrian Quezada (1-3) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on nine hits across 5 2/3 innings, while walking two and striking out six.
Grayson Childers, whose home run gave Queens their brief – and only – lead of the weekend, collected two hits in four plate appearances, driving in one run. Wong contributed offensively with a double and a run scored, finishing with one hit in four at-bats.
Florida Gulf Coast took an early lead in the first inning when Embury scored on a wild pitch, after
Jeremy Comer advanced to second and Gorostola advanced to third on the same wild pitch.
In the fifth inning, QUC tied the game when Wong scored from second on a dropped third strike and subsequent throwing error.
The sixth inning saw the Green & Blue reclaim the lead.
Keaton Kangas singled, followed by
Wilfred Gonzalez's single that put two runners on base. Embury delivered an RBI single, driving in Kangas, and Gorostola added another RBI single to bring Gonzalez home.
Nelson extended Florida Gulf Coast's lead in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run to right center, marking his sixth of the season.
The Green & Blue maintained its lead through the eighth and ninth innings, securing a 4-2 victory over the Royals.
The Eagles will travel to face Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, Florida, on Tuesday, Mar. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
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Game Notes:
- This marks the seventh come-from-behind win of the season for the Eagles.
- Gorostola was 0-for-2 with a HBP when he came to the plate in the sixth, delivering the eventual game-winning RBI and extending his school-record hitting streak to 38 games.
- With 12 strikeouts in the game, the Green & Blue finished the three-game series with Queens by recording 33 strikeouts.
- Florida Gulf Coast is now 11-4 all-time vs. QUC. This marked the first three-game sweep of the Royals for the Eagles.
- Keaton Kangas - Recorded a season-high of 3 fielding assists.
- Elliot Cadieux-Lanoue - Recorded a season-high 3 strikeouts.
