Deland, FL- #2 seed FGCU (41-17, 3-0 ASUN pool play) defeats #3 seed Liberty University (27-30, 1-2, ASUN pool play), 15-12, Friday afternoon from Melching Field at Conrad Park.

W-Dawson Place (1-0)

3.2 IP, 4 H, ER, 5 K

L-Ryan Butler (0-2)

5.0 IP, 8 H, 9 R (ALL ER), 5 K, 2 BB

Outstanding Players (LU):

John Simmons 2/4, 3 R, HR, 4 RBI

Todd Hudson 1/3, 2 R, 3 RBI’s

Brayden Horton 2/5, 2 RBI’s

Outstanding Players (FGCU):

Alejandro Figueredo 3/4, 4 R, 2 HR, 5 RBI’s

Trevor Kole 3/4, 3 R, HR, 3 RBI’s

Harrison Povey 2/4, R, HR, 3 RBI’s

Overview:

In a game that saw both teams combine for 27 runs, and 29 hits, we had a slugfest in Deland. #2 seed FGCU did what they had to do to earn the #1 seed for the ASUN Championship semifinals, and it never hurts going 3-0 in ASUN Conference pool play. Dawson Place (1-0) earned the win, pitching 3.2 inning, allowing an earned run, and four hits, while striking out 5 Flames. Alejandro Figueredo finished with a game high 5 RBI’s, which included 2 home runs. Trevor Kole continues to remain hot offensively, finishing with another home run, and 3 RBI’s. Harrison Povey also went deep again, finishing with a home run, and 3 RBI’s. Liberty was led offensively by John Simmons, who finished with a home run, and 4 RBI’s. The Eagles have extended their season, and we can’t wait to see what’s in store this weekend for FGCU.

What’s Next:

#2 seed FGCU (41-17) will face #7 seed Jacksonville State (27-28) in the ASUN Championship semifinals, Saturday morning at 11 AM, from Melching Field at Conrad Park. JSU still has to face Austin Peay tonight, in their final game in pool play.

Deland, FL- #2 seed FGCU (40-17) came from behind to defeat #1 seed Lipscomb University (33-24), 6-5, Thursday afternoon from Melching Field at Conrad Park.

W-Alejandro Valiente (5-2)

1.0 IP, 2 BB

L-Ethan Smith (2-1)

1.1 IP, 3 H, 4 R (ALL ER)

S-Connor O’Hara (5)

1.0 IP, 2 R, K, 3 BB

Outstanding Players (FGCU):

Harrison Povey 1/3, R, HR, 3 RBI’s

Trevor Kole 2/4, R, HR, RBI

Joe Kinker 1/4, R, RBI

Outstanding Players (LU):

Jake Berg 1/3, R, HR, 2 RBI’s

Austin Kelly 1/4, R, RBI

Mason Lundgrin 1/4, RBI

Overview:

What a rally for the Eagles in the 9th inning this afternoon vs Lipscomb University! This game had all the feels of a postseason game, with a 2 run home run from Jake Berg that opened up the scoring. He previously hit a double, but the play was reviewed, and later called a foul ball. Two pitches later, Jake deposited the ball into the seats. Lipscomb would add on another run in the bottom of the 2nd, courtesy of a Caleb Ketchup ground out (3-0). Alejandro Rodriguez got the Eagles back on the board, with an RBI single that hit Bisons pitcher Bryce Houghton (3-1). The game moved along with not much to show for, until the top of the 7th. Trevor Kole hit a solo home run, and FGCU was back within one run (3-2). With the Eagles down to their last three outs in the top of the 9th, Joe Kinker tied the game up with a sacrifice fly, that scored Jalen Townsend. Later in the inning, the Eagles took the lead for good, with Harrison Povey hitting the go-ahead three run homer with 2 outs in the inning. Earlier in the inning, Edrick Felix was hit in the face, but able to remain in the game. Connor O’Hara ran into some trouble in the bottom of the 9th, walking three batters, but was able to get gain his composure back, and make the necessary pitches to secure the save. With the win, the Eagles advanced to the ASUN Conference semifinals, which will take place Saturday in Deland.

What’s Next:

#2 seed FGCU faces #3 seed Liberty University, Friday afternoon at 2:30 PM, in the final game of pool play, from Melching Field at Conrad Park in Deland.

Deland, FL- #2 seed FGCU (39-17, 1-0 ASUN Tournament) faces #1 seed Lipscomb University (33-23, 0-1 ASUN Tournament), Thursday morning at 10 AM, from Melching Field at Conrad Park, in Pool A, Game 2, of the ASUN Conference tournament.

Season Stats:

Hitting (FGCU):

.322/1.023 OPS/1973 AB/537 R/636 H/123 2B/9 3B/129 HR/510 RBI/.590 SLG%/469 SO/294 BB/.433 OB%

Hitting (LU):

.256/.843 OPS/1839 AB/377 R/470 H/86 2B/5 3B/97 HR/348 RBI/.466 SLG%/508 SO/304 BB/.377 OB%

Pitching (FGCU):

39-17/5.92 ERA/1.75 WHIP/2 SHO/13 SV/474.2 IP/559 H/368 R (312 ER)/459 K/271 BB/100 2B/9 3B/66 HR/1922 AB/.291 BAA

Pitching (LU):

33-23/5.12 ERA/1.34 WHIP/4 CG/2 SHO/8 SV/487.1 IP/439 H/310 R (277 ER)/508 K/212 BB/90 2B/4 3B/68 HR/1862 AB/.236 BAA

3 Players To Watch For (FGCU):

6’0 SO INF Edrick Felix

.374/1.240 OPS/227 AB/65 R/85 H/22 2B/3B/23 HR/74 RBI/.784 SLG%/52 SO/29 BB/.456 OB%

6’3 SR 1B Joe Kinker

.371/1.159 OPS/221 AB/68 R/82 H/16 2B/18 HR/75 RBI/.688 SLG%/66 SO/42 BB/.471 OB%

6’3 SR INF Alejandro Figueredo

.351/1.115 OPS/225 AB/66 R/79 H/10 2B/20 HR/63 RBI/.662 SLG%/40 SO/38 BB/.453 OB%

3 Players To Watch For (LU):

6’3 SO INF Trace Willhoite

.308/1.074 OPS/195 AB/49 R/60 H/16 2B/16 HR/63 RBI/.636 SLG%/62 SO/42 BB/.438 OB%

5’11 R-SO C Austin Kelly

.295/1.004 OPS/190 AB/39 R/56 H/5 2B/2 3B/20 HR/57 RBI/.658 SLG%/33 SO/12 BB/.346 OB%

6’0 SO INF Mason Lundgrin

.284/.794 OPS/204 AB/41 R/58 H/10 2B/3B/3 HR/29 RBI/.387 SLG%/50 SO/40 BB/.407 OB%

Overview:

FGCU and Lipscomb face off for the first time this season in game two of ASUN Conference pool play. Lipscomb was the regular season champion with a 23-7 record in ASUN play. The Bison are led offensively by Trace Willhoite in batting average (.308), and RBI’s (63). Austin Kelly leads the team in home runs with 20 long balls. The Bisons’ best pitchers are Logan Van Treeck (7-4, 3.39 ERA, 97 K), and Braydon Tucker (6-0. 3.47 ERA, 82 K). Lipscomb is led by Head Coach Jeff Forehand, who is in his 17th season leading the Bison. Lipscomb fell 12-11 in their first game of ASUN Conference pool play to Liberty University, Tuesday morning.

The Eagles head into this game, after defeating Jacksonville University, 7-0, Tuesday afternoon in ASUN Conference pool play. FGCU is led offensively by Edrick Felix in batting average (.374), and home runs (23), and Joe Kinker leads FGCU with 75 RBI’s. FGCU has a huge opportunity with a win, to control their destiny, heading into Friday afternoon’s game vs #3 seed Liberty.