Fort Myers, FL- #19 FGCU (17-4) defeated USF (8-14) 5-3, Tuesday night, from Swanson Stadium.

W-Chase Kriebel (1-1)

6.0 IP, 4 H, K, 4 BB

L-Lawson Gailey (0-2)

3.1 IP, 6 H, 2 R (ER), 2 K, BB

S-Connor O’Hara (2)

2.1 IP, H, K

Outstanding Players (USF):

Drew Brutcher 3/4, RBI

Eric Snow 1/4, R, RBI

Jackson Mayo 1/4, R, RBI

Outstanding Players (#19 FGCU):

Alejandro Rodriguez 1/4, R, 2 RBI’s

Jacob Lojewski 1/2, RBI

Alejandro Figueredo 1/3, R, RBI

Overview:

#19 FGCU continued their winning ways Tuesday night, defeating the Bulls, from Swanson Stadium. Alejandro Figueredo put the Eagles in front 1-0 with an RBI single in the bottom of the 1st to open the scoring. Alejandro Rodriguez’s 2 RBI single opened the game up in the bottom of the 5th, to push the score to 4-0, while Jacob Lojewski contributed an RBI single, extending the Eagles lead to 5 runs in the bottom of the 5th. Chase Kriebel (1-1) pitched extremely well, lasting 6 innings, while allowing 4 hits, striking out 1, and walking 4 batters. USF scored 3 runs in the 7th inning, before Connor O’Hara earned his 2nd save of the season, pitching 2.1 innings, allowing one hit, while striking out one. It was a great mid week showing for the Eagles, and now it’s time for the #19 team in the country to head out on the road!

What’s Next:

#19 FGCU (17-4) heads on the road to face FIU (12-9), Wednesday night at 6 PM, from FIU Baseball Stadium.

Villanova, PA- #12 seed FGCU (33-4) saw their season come to an end Monday night, as they fell to #4 seed Villanova University (30-6), 76-57, in the 2nd round of March Madness, from Finneran Pavilion.

Stats (#12 FGCU):

#12 FGCU shot 35.6% (21/59) from the field, 33.3% (7/21) from beyond the arc, and were outrebounded 42-30 by Villanova. The Eagles dished out 12 assists, had 1 steal, and 2 blocks in the game. #12 FGCU forced 10 Villanova team turnovers, while 14 having team turnovers of their own.

Stats (#4 NOVA):

#4 Villanova shot 47.8% (32/67) from the field, 22.7% (5/22) from beyond the arc, and outrebounded FGCU 42-30. The Wildcats dished out 19 assists, had 5 steals, and 8 blocks in the game. #4 Villanova forced 14 FGCU team turnovers, while 10 having team turnovers of their own.

Outstanding Players (#12 FGCU):

Sha Carter 11 pts, 6 reb

Alyza Winston 10 pts, 3 reb

Uju Ezeudu 9 pts, 9 reb

Outstanding Players (#4 NOVA):

Maddy Siegrist 31 pts, 6 reb

Lucy Olsen 23 pts, 10 reb

Brooke Mullin 7 pts, 5 asts, 4 reb

Overview:

#12 FGCU was led offensively by Sha Carter, who finished with 11 points. The Eagles couldn’t get much going again from beyond the arc, and the flow to the offense was halted due to a tough defensive team in Nova. Alyza Winston (10 points), and Uju Ezeudu (9 points, 9 rebounds) also had moments in the game where they hit some big shots.

The Eagles impressive season finally came to an end Monday night from Finneran Pavilion. #12 FGCU ran into a terrific team in #4 Villanova, with a likely top WNBA pick in Maddy Siegrist, who could not be stopped by the Eagles. Maddy finished with a game high 31 points, and did it all in the game for the Wildcats. Lucy Olsen finished with a double-double of 23 points, and 10 rebounds, while shooting 3/5 from beyond the arc.

While it’s disappointing that the season is over, this FGCU team gave us so many special moments to enjoy, and with the many departures of this team leaving Fort Myers, we can’t wait to see how Coach Smesko retools and reloads for next season. Winston, Antenucci, Bartram, and Ezeudu return next season, and while we have entered the off-season today, we can’t wait for the first official practice, and to see the Eagles reunite for another year with all eyes looking for a return to March Madness.

Fort Myers, FL- #19 FGCU (16-4) remains home to face USF (8-13), Tuesday night at 6:30 PM, from Swanson Stadium.

Stats:

Hitting (USF):

.252/.700 OPS/715 AB/94 R/180 H/25 2B/2 3B/18 HR/87 RBI/.368 SLG%/218 SO/63 BB/.332 OB%

Hitting (#19 FGCU):

.323/1.004 OPS/712 AB/182 R/230 H/42 2B/4 3B/40 HR/168 RBI/.562 SLG%/176 SO/107 BB/.442 OB%

Pitching (USF):

8-13/5.95 ERA/1.61 WHIP/3 SV/189.0 IP/208 H/143 R (125 ER)/195 K/96 BB/38 2B/6 3B/29 HR/744 AB/.280 BAA

Pitching (#19 FGCU):

16-4/4.94 ERA/1.60 WHIP/SHO/8 SV/173.0 IP/188 H/121 R (95 ER)/166 K/89 BB/36 2B/2 3B/12 HR/683 AB/.275 BAA

3 Players To Watch For (USF):

5’10 JR INF John Montes

.324/.934 OPS/74 AB/13 R/24 H/6 2B/4 HR/13 RBI/.568 SLG%/7 SO/3 BB/.366 OB%

6’5 JR OF Drew Brutcher

.279/.728 OPS/86 AB/12 R/24 H/3 2B/2 HR/10 RBI/.384 SLG%/39 SO/7 BB/.344 OB%

5’8 FR INF Eric Snow

.279/.739 OPS/61 AB/8 R/17 H/3 2B/2 HR/13 RBI/.426 SLG%/19 SO/3 BB/.313 OB%

3 Players To Watch For (#19 FGCU):

6’3 SR INF Alejandro Figueredo

.427/1.271 OPS/82 AB/26 R/35 H/6 2B/7 HR/24 RBI/.756 SLG%/8 SO/13 BB/.515 OB%

6’1 SO INF Edrick Felix

.386/1.240 OPS/83 AB/25 R/32 H/8 2B/8 HR/20 RBI/.771 SLG%/22 SO/11 BB/.469 OB%

6’3 SR 1B Joe Kinker

.366/1.167 OPS/82 AB/26 R/30 H/7 2B/7 HR/28 RBI/.707 SLG%/27 SO/13 BB/.460 OB%

Overview:

#19 FGCU and USF square for the first of two meetings this season, Tuesday night from Swanson Stadium. USF is struggling this season with an 8-13 record overall, and are members of the American Athletic Conference. Head Coach Billy Mohl has led the Bulls for the past five seasons as Head Coach, while being on staff for 8 seasons. USF is led offensively by John Montes, who is batting .324 with 4 HR, and 13 RBI’s. The Bulls do have signature wins over #13 Maryland, and #7 Florida this year though, so #19 FGCU can’t take them lightly in this mid week matchup.

#19 FGCU is led offensively by INF Alejandro Figueredo, who is batting .427, with 7 HR, and 24 RBI’s. Edrick Felix (.386, 8 HR, and 20 RBI) and Joey Kinker (.366, 7 HR, and 28 RBI’s) also are crushing the ball, and the Eagles offense continues to rake vs the opposition. #19 FGCU plays five games this week, with the game vs USF, and a mid week road game Wednesday night vs FIU, along with a three game series starting Friday from Florence, Alabama vs UNA. It’s an opportunity to reach 20 wins this week, and continue the outstanding season the Eagles have had so far.