FORT MYERS, Fla. – FGCU jumped out to a 4-0 lead before host FAU (13-8) could even reach the plate and the Eagles (17-4) never looked back, scoring 12 runs on 17 hits in a 12-4 win in front of 449 at FAU Baseball Stadium Tuesday night.
Even with the host Owls scoring half (2) of their runs in the first inning, FGCU is still outscoring opponents 30-13 in the first inning this season.
Wilfred Gonzalez and
Jon Embury each went 3-for-5 at the plate and were two of the six Eagles with multiple hits.
Nathan Gagnon scored two runs and drove in two with a home run among his two hits.
Evan Dempsey matched Gagnon with two runs and two RBIs, also hitting a home run.
Jeremy Comer added three RBIs with a home run as part of his two-hit performance.
Javier Gorostola extended his school-record hitting streak to 39 games with a 2-for-4 performance.
Preston Rogers (3-2) was credited with the win after allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out three. He was one of six pitchers to take the mound for FGCU and the sextet combined for 14 strikeouts while only issuing three walks. That made Tuesday's contest the 19
th time in 21 games this season the Eagles pitchers have fanned 10 or more opposing batters.
Ryan Buckler (1-2) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs on five hits. He was one of seven FAU pitchers to take the mound. All but two of those seven would allow at least one run including Carson Kimball, who faced three batters and did not record an out while allowing two runs on three hits in his brief appearance on the mound.
Kyle Boylston led FAU with a home run, contributing significantly to the offensive output with two hits and one RBI in at-bats. John Martinez was also a key player, recording three hits in five at-bats, showcasing his consistency at the plate.
Florida Gulf Coast started strong in the first inning with
Jon Embury's single to left field, followed by
Javier Gorostola's single to left center, advancing Embury to third.
Jaret Nelson's RBI single to second base scored Embury, and
Jeremy Comer hit a three-run homer to deep right field, bringing in Gorostola and Nelson. The Eagles led 4–2 after the first inning.
In the third inning,
Evan Dempsey hit a two-run homer to right field, scoring Gorostola, extending Florida Gulf Coast's lead to 6–2 by the end of the inning.
The fifth inning saw the Eagles add three more runs.
Tyler Herb doubled to left, followed by a single from Juan Santos that scored Herb.
Nathan Gagnon then homered to deep center, adding two more runs. The Eagles led 9–2 after five innings.
In the sixth inning, Dempsey singled and advanced to second on a steal, later scoring on a passed ball, pushing Florida Gulf Coast's lead to 10–2.
The Eagles continued their scoring in the seventh with Gagnon and
Wilfred Gonzalez both reaching base on singles, which set up Embury's two-RBI double to right center. After seven innings, the score stood at 12–3 in favor of the Eagles.
FAU managed one more run in the ninth inning, but Florida Gulf Coast secured the victory with a final score of 12–4.
Florida Gulf Coast returns to ASUN play this weekend when the Eagles travel to Jacksonville, Florida, to face North Florida in a three-game series Friday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m.
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Game Notes:
- After hanging a crooked number (4) in the opening frame, the Eagles have now scored 30 runs in the first inning this season.
- Javier Gorostola extended his school-record hitting streak to 39 games.
- Wilfred Gonzalez and Javier Gorostola each have a 21-game reached base streak this season.
- Florida Gulf Coast hit three (3) home runs in the game, marking the fifth time this year the Eagles have hit multiple home runs in a game.
- Florida Gulf Coast pitchers recorded a combined 14 strikeouts. The Eagles have registered 10-or-more strikeouts in 19 of 21 games this season.
- Tuesday's game marked the 11th time this season (out of 21 games) that the Eagles have scored 10-or-more runs.
- This marked the 11th game this season that Jon Embury has recorded multiple RBIs.
- FGCU is now 19-20 all-time against FAU with Tuesday's win ending a three-game skid against the Owls.
- Tuesday's victory also marked FGCU's first win in Boca Raton since 2021.
- Team - Totaled 17 hits in the game, exceeding their season average of 13.0.
- Jeremy Comer - Recorded 2 or more hits in 2 consecutive games.
- Jon Embury - Recorded 3 or more hits in back-to-back games.
- Juan Santos - Scored 1 run for the first time this season.
- Juan Santos - Recorded 1 hit for the first time this season.
- Nathan Gagnon - Recorded a season-high total of 2 hits.
- Nathan Gagnon - Achieved a season-high total of 2 runs batted in.
- Wilfred Gonzalez - Registered 3 hits, surpassing their season average of 1.5.
