DELAND, Fla. – Although delayed by a little over 12 hours, FGCU got the result it was hoping for. The Eagles hit three home runs – two by
Jeremy Comer – and used another double-digit strikeout performance by
Evan Dempsey in a 4-3 win over Central Arkansas in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament on Thursday morning.
FGCU (35-20, 17-12 ASUN) now enters the double elimination portion of the bracket and will face No. 2 seed Lipscomb (26-24, 19-11) with a scheduled start time of 5 p.m. at Melching Field at Conrad Park in DeLand. Central Arkansas ends its season at 31-26.
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Comer's career-high two home runs – both to right – powered the Eagles in the game, coming in consecutive at-bats in the fourth and sixth innings. Two batters after he hit his second home run of the game,
Nathan Gagnon went the opposite way as he sent a shot over the left field wall.
In between Comer's dingers,
Wilfred Gonzalez drove in
Javier Gorostola in the fifth inning on a single to center.
Dempsey (7-2) dominated on the mound, pitching six complete innings without allowing a run and striking out 10 batters while giving up four hits and two walks.
Ashton Pocol (6) closed the game with a save, pitching one inning and striking out two batters despite allowing 2 hits and 1 run. The efforts of Dempsey, Pocol and
Preston Rogers yielded a combined 14 strikeouts for FGCU pitchers in the game. UCA starter Jake Jones (4-5) was charged with the loss after allowing one run on five hits over four innings of work.
Jagger Schattle was a standout performer for UCA, leading the team with three hits. Parker Gwyn also contributed offensively, recording two doubles and driving in a run. Keaton Laidley made an impact with two RBIs and added a stolen base.
The scoring began in the fourth inning when Comer hit his first solo home run to deep right field, giving the Eagles a 1–0 lead. The lead extended in the fifth inning with Gonzalez's RBI single to center field, bringing Gorostola home and making it 2–0. Comer continued his strong performance in the sixth, launching his second home run of the game to deep right field. Gagnon followed with a solo homer of his own to left field, bringing Florida Gulf Coast's lead to 4–0.
In the ninth inning, UCA mounted a comeback attempt. Gwyn doubled to left field, scoring Jack Runsick. Laidley then singled to shallow center, driving in two more runs. However, the Eagles' pitching held firm to secure the win.
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Game Notes:
- The win marked FGCU's fifth consecutive win in ASUN Tournament play.
- With the win, the Eagles are now 37-23 all-time in ASUN Tournament play.
- Florida Gulf Coast is now 2-0 all-time against the Bears. Both wins occurred in ASUN Tournament play.
- Team - Achieved 14 strikeouts swinging in the game, surpassing their season average of 10.02.
- Team - Surpassed the milestone of 550 strikeouts swinging for the season, totaling 555 after contributing 14 in the game.
- The 555 strikeouts by Florida Gulf Coast pitchers currently ranks tied for 18th in the nation (along with Arkansas and Jacksonville State) and is the highest amount by any non-P4 team.
- Jaret Nelson - Achieved 344 putouts this season, surpassing the milestone of 340.
- Nelson - Reached a career total of 503 putouts, exceeding the 500 milestone.
- Comer - Reached 31 runs batted in this season, contributing 2 in the current game.
- Comer - Achieved 60 hits for the season, including 3 in the current game.
- Jon Embury - Reached 415 putouts this season, contributing 13 in the current game.
- Gagnon - Reached the 10 runs batted in milestone, totaling 10 for the season.
