The FGCU baseball team (32-18, 14-6 ASUN) swept a doubleheader on Saturday against NJIT (17-27-1, 7-17 ASUN) to capture the overall series against the Highlanders. The Eagles earned 6-1, 4-3 victories over NJIT and became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2019 ASUN Conference Tournament.
“It was good to see the guys come out and grab these two wins,” head coach Dave Tollettsaid. “I thought our pitching was much better all-around and I thought that we did a good job of hanging in during the second game when things got tight.”
FGCU 6, NJIT 1
Energized by one of senior starter Evan Lumbert’s strongest outings this season, the FGCU baseball team rebounded from its Friday night loss to take game two of the series.
The Highlanders were the first to get on the board, pushing a run across in the second inning, but Lumbert (Orlando, FL/Boone HS/South Florida State) kept them off the boards from there as the Eagles’ offense got to work.
Freshman Joe Kinker evened the score up at 1-1 with an RBI groundout in the fourth inning that sent senior Eric Gonzalez across and the Eagles took over the game from there.
The Green and Blue used a three-spot in the fifth to extend the lead. Senior Jay Hayes (Altamonte Springs, FL/Lyman HS) started the spree with a double down the left field line that pushed junior Richie Garcia across, which was followed up by a two-RBI single off the bat of senior Keith Stevens. Junior Kohl Gilmore rounded out the scoring with a bases-clearing double that plated Gonzalez (Miami, FL/American HS/ASA College) and Stevens (Miami, FL/Miami Killian HS/Hillsborough CC).
Freshman Jalen Townsend came in as the final run of the ballgame after Stevens drew a bases-loaded walk in the sixth.
Lumbert (5-2) made it through 8.1 innings of the game, the longest outing of any FGCU arm this season. He allowed one earned run on six hits, while fanning three. Freshman Cody Woodring (Lakeland, FL/McKeel Academy of Technology) relieved Lumbert in the bottom of the ninth and made a brief appearance before handing the game over to sophomoreTyler Shuck.
The Highlanders had managed to load up the bases, but Shuck (Cape Coral, FL/Canterbury HS) ended the game with a strikeout and a flyout, earning his first save of the season. With the win, the Eagles became the first team to clinch a spot in the 2019 ASUN Tournament and knotted up the overall series at 1-1.
FGCU 4, NJIT 3
In the opening inning of game three, the Green and Blue jumped out to a 2-0 lead, as Stevensand Gilmore (Fort Pierce, FL/John Carroll HS/Indian River) each pushed a runner across. The Highlanders responded to the early push with a run of their own, but Gilmore, Gonzalezand sophomore Christian Proffitt ended the first with a rundown.
Senior Justin Gill started on the mound for FGCU and kept NJIT off the board for the next few frames. The Eagles’ offense struck again in the top of the fifth when Gilmore sent Gonzalez in with a double, making it a 3-1 ballgame. The Highlanders pushed one of their own runners across and sent another one in after a miscue by the Green and Blue defense to even things up at 3-3.
Gill (Winter Haven, FL/Lake Region HS/Polk State) left the game with a no-decision after being relieved by junior Hunter McGarry to start the sixth. The starter finished his day after facing 22 batters, fanning four and allowing six hits.
FGCU had a solid chance to put the game away in the seventh inning. Gonzalez, Kinker(Northport, FL/Venice HS), and Proffitt (Cape Coral, FL/Ida Baker HS) all reached with walks to load up the bases, but NJIT battled back and shut down the inning before the Green and Blue could plate anyone.
Finally, the Eagles were able to string something together in the top of the ninth. Gilmore led off the inning with a double and was replaced by junior pinch runner Marc Coffers. A sac bunt via junior pinch hitter Cameron Krzeminski (Coral Springs, FL/St. Thomas Aquinas HS)sent Coffers (Naples, FL/Barron Collier HS) over to third and Townsend (Oviedo, FL/Winter Park HS) plated the winning run with a sac fly to left field.
McGarry (Bradenton, FL/Bradenton Christian School/State College of Florida) kept NJIT from coming back in the bottom of the ninth and improved to 6-1 on the season.
Up Next
The Eagles will return to Swanson Stadium to host Liberty (33-16, 12-7 ASUN) May 16-18. Thursday’s game will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs, as the Flames are new to the ASUN this year. Prior to the game on Saturday, May 18, head coach Dave Tollettand his staff will honor the six graduating seniors: Justin Gill, Kohl Gilmore, Eric Gonzalez,Jay Hayes, Evan Lumbert and Keith Stevens. First pitch both Thursday and Friday is slated for 6:30 p.m. and Saturday’s game will be played at 1 p.m..
Lowest career earned run avg. (min. 40 IP)
1. 1.71 – CRAWFORD, Kutter (84.0 IP) – 2017
2. 2.00 – Studstill, Mason (76.2 IP) – 2019
3. 2.52 – SALE, Chris (228.2 IP) – 2008-10
4. 2.70 – BLEIER, Richard (209.2 IP) – 2006-08
5. 2.73 – MURRAY, Michael (284.0 IP) – 2013-15
6. 2.73 – SHAW, Derek (115.1 IP) – 2007-09
7. 2.82 – CRUMBLEY, J.J. (185.0 IP) – 2005-08
8. 2.85 – Bitner, Nikolas (41.0 IP) – 2019
9. 2.92 – KNAPP, Ricky (283.1 IP) – 2011-13
10. 2.93 – PARDO, Luis (76.2 IP) – 2007
Lowest career opponent batting avg. (min. 40 IP)
1. .151 – Studstill, Mason (76.2 IP) – 2019
2. .194 – CRAWFORD, Kutter (84.0 IP) – 2017
3. .201 – BIXLER, Brandon (128.2 IP) – 2011-13
4. .207 – CAHILL, Chris (69.2 IP) – 2003-04
5. .216 – DESGUIN, Jordan (62.0 IP) – 2015
6. .232 – KNOBLAUCH, Clint (44.1 IP) – 2012-14
7. .234 – ENGLISH, Jack (138.1 IP) – 2012-15
8. .235 – SALE, Chris (228.2 IP) – 2008-10
9. .235 – Bitner, Nikolas (41.0 IP) – 2019
10. .241 – Lumbert, Evan (56.0 IP) – 2019
Most career strikeouts/9 inn game (min. 40 IP)
1. 11.53 – SALE, Chris (228.2 IP) – 2008-10
2. 10.91 – BIXLER, Brandon (128.2 IP) – 2011-13
3. 10.68 – Studstill, Mason (76.2 IP) – 2019
4. 10.61 – CRAWFORD, Kutter (84.0 IP) – 2017
5. 10.54 – HERING, Kenton (134.0 IP) – 2016-18
6. 10.42 – GRAY, Peyton (95.0 IP) – 2017-18
7. 10.27 – WILLIAMS, Ryan (125.1 IP) – 2004-06
8. 10.21 – PARDO, Luis (76.2 IP) – 2007
9. 10.08 – CAHILL, Chris (69.2 IP) – 2003-04
10. 9.90 – BARNES, Jacob (113.2 IP) – 2009-11
Most career saves
1. 19 – KOERNER, Sterling – 2014-17
2. 15 – HERING, Kenton – 2016-18
3. 14 – CRUMBLEY, J.J. – 2005-08
4. 11 – ANDERSON, Brady – 2012-16
5. 9 – ANDERSON, Garrett – 2014-17
9 – COONEY, Harrison – 2011-13
9 – WAGONER, Jack – 2010-11
8. 8 – McGarry, Hunter – 2019
9. 6 – SHAW, Derek – 2007-09
6 – COLEMAN, Casey – 2006-08
Highest career fielding pct.
1. 1.000 – FIBBE, Paul (368-40-0) – 2007-08
1.000 – Coffers, Marc (125-5-0) – 2019
1.000 – GEBHART, Ryan (166-5-0) – 2012
1.000 – MASINO, Adam (124-12-0) – 2004
1.000 – BURNS, Kevin (50-2-0) – 2005
6. .997 – Brait, Alex (347-24-1) – 2019
7. .996 – ROBERTS, Brad (243-12-1) – 2009
8. .993 – CLEGHORN, Mike (278-13-2) – 2005-06
9. .992 – SMITH, Graig (1053-130-9) – 2005-08
10. .992 – MAXFIELD, Zach (1172-63-10) – 2009-11
WE’VE GOT YOUR SEAT
Experience FGCU Baseball and Softball this season. The following ticket opportunities are on sale now:
Group Sales
Bring your group of 15 or more to an FGCU Baseball or Softball game. All group tickets include your choice of concessions or an FGCU hat ($15 value), in-game group recognition and more. For more information on group outings, click HERE or call 239-590-7145.
Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets are available for all remaining home games. Adult tickets are $7 each. Discounted tickets are available for current or former Military and Youth ages 3-15 for just $5 each. Baseball and Softball Frequent Flyer Cards allow multiple entries for more than 50 percent off the adult rate. Choose 34 baseball entries for $105 or 17 softball entries for $55. Purchase online HERE or call 239-590-7145.
FOLLOW ALONG
For constant news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the baseball team on Twitter @FGCU_Baseball, Instagram @FGCU_Baseball or on Facebook: Facebook.con/FGCUBaseball. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.
