FORT MYERS, Fla. – Evan Dempsey stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 12
th with a full count, two outs, two on and FGCU trailing, 9-8. The 2025 John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year was 0-for-4 in the game and had only reached base courtesy of a pair of walks. But with big-time players like Dempsey, that is when they thrive.
And thrive he did. On the eighth pitch of the at-bat, Dempsey delivered a double off the wall in right-center, driving in Merrick Rapoza and Juan Santos in a thrilling 10-9, 12-inning FGCU (24-15) victory over FIU (13-27) on Tuesday night.
The crowd of 775 at Swanson Stadium – the largest crowd to ever see a FGCU-FIU game – witnessed the thrilling conclusion to a back-and-forth game. They also saw career performances by several Eagles that made the win possible.
Cayden Hessemyer, a sophomore from Odessa, registered a career-high four hits.
Logan Eisenbarth (1-0), the senior transfer from Wisconsin-Whitewater, delivered two strikeouts in a season-high three innings pitched for his first win of the season. Merrick Rapoza, a freshman from Fleming Island, posted career highs in hits (2), RBIs (2) and runs scored (2).
It was a team effort in more ways than one. A total of 19 players with FGCU written on their chests entered the game. All eight pitchers for FGCU recorded at least one strikeout with the hurlers combined accumulating 15 strikeouts in the game. Nearly every player reached base. The 10 runs scored came off only 12 hits, while FGCU also drew five walks and three hit by pitches.
Evan Dempsey reflected on his pivotal performance in the Eagles' victory over Florida International, emphasizing the importance of staying focused despite earlier struggles in the game.
"I'm just trying to put the ball in play," Dempsey said. "I had three balls and two strikes. If it's not in the zone, I'll walk. Being 0-for-4 going into that, you have to stay in the game."
His persistence paid off with the game-winning two-run double.
"I had a similar situation my freshman year," Dempsey recalled. I was 0-for-5, I went to the plate in my last at-bat versus USF, and the last at-bat mattered the most."
Sebastian Lippman opened the game with a solid performance, striking out two batters in his one inning of work without allowing a hit or a walk.
Ashton Pocol also delivered a strong outing, pitching one inning with two strikeouts and no hits. Eisenbarth pitched the longest, completing three innings and earning the win, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out two.
Samuel Fischer led FIU with a strong performance at the plate, recording two hits, including a double, and driving in two runs. Marc Hersh also contributed significantly with two RBIs, matching Fischer's output in driving runs home. Andrew Ildefonso showcased his speed and awareness on the bases, scoring two runs on two hits. Luca Reyes provided additional offensive support with two hits, one run scored, and an RBI. On the mound, Tyrus Riley stood out by pitching two scoreless innings, striking out three batters, and allowing no hits or walks. Bryce Turner (2-3) was charged with the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in 2/3 of an inning.
In the bottom of the second, FGCU put up a crooked number with a five-run inning.
Jaret Nelson singled through the left side, followed by Hessemyer's single. Both advanced on a wild pitch.
Jeremy Comer brought in Nelson with a single, and Rapoza drove in Hessemyer with another single.
Wilfred Gonzalez was hit by a pitch, scoring Comer. Florida Gulf Coast held a 5-0 lead after the second inning.
But the Panthers responded in a big way in the third inning, scoring seven runs. Enrique Alvarez Jr. walked, and Luca Reyes singled. Marc Hersh's RBI single drove in Alvarez Jr. A fielding error allowed Reyes to score, and a sacrifice fly by Cole Cleveland brought in Marc Hersh. Fischer's two-RBI double completed the scoring, giving FIU the 7-5 lead.
The Eagles cut the deficit in the fourth inning when Drew Seidel walked, stole third base, and scored on Gonzalez's sacrifice fly. Florida International maintained a 7-6 lead at the end of the fourth inning.
In the seventh inning, the Green & Blue finally regained the lead. Nelson singled, and Hessemyer doubled. Comer's groundout scored Nelson, and Rapoza's single brought Hessemyer home, putting FGCU ahead 8-7 through seven innings.
FIU tied the game in the ninth with a sacrifice fly by Mario Trivella, sending the game to extra innings tied at 8-8.
A tense twelfth inning saw FIU take the lead with Caden Sammler's RBI triple. However, Dempsey doubled to right center, securing a walk-off two-RBI double that brought home Rapoza and Juan Santos.
FGCU now gets two days to prepare for a weekend series with Atlantic Sun Conference rival North Florida. The Ospreys (23-17, 14-4 ASUN) head to Fort Myers as leaders of the Graphite Division, holding a five-game lead over Jacksonville and a 5 ½ game lead over FGCU. The three-game series begins on Friday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. at Swanson Stadium.
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Game Notes:
- FGCU now leads the all-time series over FIU, 20-10. The Eagles are 9-5 at home against the Panthers.
- This marks the second win over FIU this year and the second time (out of two games) that the FGCU-FIU game has gone to extra innings.
- With the win, Florida Gulf Coast is now 55-30-1 (.645) all-time in extra-inning games.
- The 12-inning game played tonight ties for the 10th-longest game in FGCU history.
- Tonight's attendance of 775 is the largest crowd to ever watch a FGCU-FIU game.
- The attendance of 775 is the third-largest attendance at Swanson Stadium so far this year.
- Cayden Hessemyer recorded a career-high 4 hits in the game.
- Evan Dempsey's double in the 12th marked his first game-winning RBI of the season.
- This game marked the Eagles' 8th walk-off win of the season.
- This game marked FGCU's 9th come-from-behind win of the season.
- The second inning marked Florida Gulf Coast's 14th big inning of the season (4+ runs/9+ batters).
- Team - Generated 9 runs batted in, exceeding their season average of 6.55.
- Team - Totaled 15 strikeouts swinging, exceeding their season average of 10.03.
- Elliot Cadieux Lanoue - Achieved 2 strikeouts for the first time this season.
- Jaret Nelson - Scored 2 runs, higher than their season average of 0.71.
- Jeremy Comer - Recorded 2 runs batted in, surpassing their season average of 0.58.
- Jordan Vera - Recorded a season-high total of 1 strikeout looking.
- Logan Eisenbarth - Achieved first pitching win of the season.
- Logan Eisenbarth - Recorded 2 strikeouts looking for the first time this season.
- Logan Eisenbarth - Pitched a season-high total of 3 innings.
- Logan Eisenbarth - Totaled a season-high of 2 strikeouts looking.
- Merrick Rapoza - Scored 2 runs for the first time this season.
- Merrick Rapoza - Totaled 2 runs batted in, marking a season-high.
- Sebastian Lippman - Started first game of the season.
