DELAND, Fla. – FGCU's late-game heroics – the type that helped propel the Eagles to their 13
th season of 35-or-more wins in the past 24 years – were exhausted Saturday. A promising line drive off the bat of
Nathan Gagnon turned into an unlucky double play, ending Florida Gulf Coast's season with a 6-5 loss to No. 4 seed North Alabama (31-22).
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The third-seeded Eagles (36-22) were just one win away from reaching their fifth ASUN Tournament Championship Game. Trailing 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth, Drew Seidel was on second and Cole Lasher was on first, both pinch running with one out. Gagnon's line drive looked like it was going to drop in front of UNA's Nash Rippen but held up in the air just long enough for Rippen to race in and make the catch.
Rippen, with momentum pushing him inward, fired a throw that barely beat Seidel back to second base to double him up and thwart a potential 13
th come-from-behind win for the Eagles this season. It also sent the Lions to the ASUN Tournament Championship game in their final year as members of the Atlantic Sun Conference.
The possibility of Gagnon reaching base was not outlandish; in fact, it had become commonplace. The senior outfielder finished the game 2-for-5 with two RBIs while hitting .385 in a 5-for-13 week complete with two walks, one hit by pitch, two runs scored and three RBIs.
Javier Gorostola was 3-for-4 in the game with two runs scored while
Jeremy Comer drove in two runs in a 2-for-3 performance at the plate. Comer finished the week hitting, .400 (6-for-15) with two home runs, four RBIs, two runs scored and an .800 slugging percentage to earn ASUN All-Tournament honors.
It was a harrowing day for the FGCU pitchers, but not in the way you would think. Both Sebastian Lippman and
Ashton Pocol took line drives off their legs, but remained in the game, showing a grittiness and fortitude for which FGCU head coach
Dave Tollett's teams are often known. Lippman (1-3) was charged with the loss, allowing four runs – one earned – on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts while Pocol finished the game, holding the Lions scoreless on two hits and striking out two over the final two innings.
John Allen Stogner (3-2) earned the win after allowing three runs on five hits in five innings, while walking four and striking out two. Josh Bowerman was effective in relief, earning the save after facing two batters and not allowing a hit or a run.
Rippen not only made the game-winning play, but also led the Lions with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate while scoring twice and driving in four of UNA's six runs. Dylan Coleman was also potent at the plate, going 4-for-5 with two runs scored.
Florida Gulf Coast originally jumped to an early lead in the first inning with three runs.
Jon Embury scored on a bases-loaded walk to Comer, and Gagnon followed with a two-RBI single, bringing home Gorostola and
Wilfred Gonzalez. At the end of one inning, the Eagles led 3–0.
North Alabama responded in the third inning, leveling the score with a three-run rally. Rippen's RBI double brought Jackson Westmoreland home, and Walker's two-run homer extended the inning, tying it at 3–3.
In the fifth inning, the Lions took a 4–3 lead when Rippen doubled down the right field line, driving in Coleman.
The seventh inning saw a two-run homer by Rippen, scoring Coleman, to push UNA's lead to 6–3. FGCU countered in the bottom half, with Comer singling in
Jaret Nelson, bringing the score to 6–4.
In the ninth inning, Gorostola doubled and scored on a Gonzalez double, but the Eagles' rally fell short. North Alabama held on for a 6–5 victory.
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Game Notes:
- FGCU ends its season with a 36-22 record, marking the 13th time in 24 years the Eagles have secured 35+ wins in a season.
- This marks the 7th time since joining the ASUN in 2008 that the Eagles have finished the year one game away from the finals of the ASUN Tournament.
- Saturday's game marks the first time FGCU and UNA have met in ASUN Tournament play. The Eagles are now 6-1 all-time against the Lions.
- FGCU finished the year 13-9 in one-run games.
- Jeremy Comer was named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team.
- Team - Achieved a total of 603 hits this season, reaching the milestone of 600 with 10 hits in the game.
- Evan Dempsey - Reached 80 putouts for the season, totaling 82 with 3 in the current game.
- Jaret Nelson - Achieved 368 putouts this season, surpassing the 360 putouts milestone.
- Javier Gorostola - Surpassed the 45 runs scored milestone, now totaling 46.
- Javier Gorostola - Reached the 80 hits milestone, bringing their total to 81.
- Jeremy Comer - Reached a total of 82 putouts for the season, marking the 80 putouts milestone with 4 in the current game.
- Juan Santos - Achieved a milestone of 140 putouts, including 6 in the current game.
- Sebastian Lippman - Recorded a season-high total of 94 pitches.
- Sebastian Lippman - Achieved a season-high of 5 ground outs recorded.
