04/28/2026

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Florida Gulf Coast University baseball team exploded for eight runs in the eighth inning to secure a 13-3 run-rule victory over the University of North Florida on Sunday, clinching an Atlantic Sun Conference series win at Swanson Stadium. After dropping Friday’s opener 5-3, the Eagles (26-16, 10-10 ASUN) rallied for a 5-3 win on Saturday before punctuating the weekend with Sunday’s offensive barrage against the Ospreys (24-19, 15-6 ASUN).

With the series victory, FGCU maintains its hold on third place in the ASUN Graphite Division. The Eagles sit just ahead of Stetson (9-11), while Queens University of Charlotte and West Georgia remain at the bottom of the division, each sporting 8-13 conference records.

The Eagles sent 13 batters to the plate in a marathon eighth inning that saw North Florida cycle through four different pitchers. Holding a 5-3 lead, the rally began when Merrick Rapoza was hit by a pitch, Jeremy Comer singled, and Drew Seidel was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Juan Santos followed with an RBI walk before Evan Dempsey broke the game open with a two-run single through the right side. The onslaught continued as Wilfred Gonzalez added an RBI single and Jaret Nelson cleared the bases with a two-run double down the left-field line. After Cayden Hessemyer drove in another run with a base hit to left, Nelson eventually crossed the plate on a wild pitch to cap an eight-run frame and trigger the 13-3 run-rule victory.

FGCU opened the scoring in the second inning when Comer laced an RBI single to score Jaret Nelson, giving the Eagles a 1-0 lead. The score held until the sixth, when North Florida finally broke through. Gialdri Gomez leveled the game with a solo home run, and Sean Benjamin followed with an RBI double to score Carter White, handing the Ospreys a 2-1 advantage.

The Ospreys extended their lead to 3-1 in the top of the seventh on an RBI single by Santiago Ordonez that brought home Mitchell Collins. However, the Eagles responded with a thunderous counter-punch in the bottom half of the frame Seidel jump-started the rally with a two-run home run to tie the game, and Evan Dempsey followed shortly after with a two-run blast to reclaim a 5-3 lead for FGCU.

Preston Rogers (5-3) earned the win for the Eagles, surrendering two runs on seven hits while striking out two in 2 2/3 innings of work. John Costa (1-1) was tagged with the loss for North Florida, charged with three runs on two hits across 1 1/3 innings.

FGCU 5, North Florida 3

After a loss in the series opener, the Eagles bounced back on Saturday afternoon to even the series with a steady 5-3 victory.

The decisive moment came in the fifth inning with the score deadlocked at 3-3. Nelson jump-started the rally by reaching on a fielding error and quickly moved into scoring position on a double by Hessemyer. Seidel then stepped up and broke the tie, lifting an RBI sacrifice fly to bring Nelson home and give FGCU a 4-3 lead.

The Eagles added a crucial insurance run in the sixth inning when Javier Gorostola launched a solo home run to right field.

FGCU jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the second inning, utilizing a mix of “small ball” and timely hitting. Seidel ignited the scoring with an RBI bunt single that brought home Merrick Rapoza. The Eagles continued to pressure the Ospreys as Dempsey drove in Comer on an RBI groundout, and Gorostola capped the three-run frame with an RBI single to score Seidel.

However, North Florida came right back to tie the game in the third inning. The Ospreys used a three-run outburst of their own, fueled by RBI singles from Gomez, White, and Benjamin to knot the score at 3-3.

Chris Diaz (4-1) earned the win for FGCU, surrendering three runs on seven hits while striking out eight over five innings of work. Sebastian Lippman locked down the finale, striking out two of the three batters he faced in the ninth to secure his second save of the season. Kai Etwaru (0-2) was tagged with the loss for North Florida, charged with one run on three hits in three innings of relief.

North Florida 5, FGCU 3

The Ospreys took the series opener on Friday by capitalizing on a few key scoring opportunities.

The game remained a scoreless deadlock until the top of the fifth, when White broke the silence with a two-run home run to right field. North Florida added a third run later in the frame on an RBI single by Collins to take a 3-0 lead.

Trailing 3-0 in the bottom of the sixth, FGCU finally broke onto the scoreboard thanks to a defensive miscue by the Ospreys. With the bases loaded, Jaret Nelson lifted a fly ball to shallow right field for the second out of the inning. However, right fielder Gialdri Gomez committed a throwing error on the play, allowing Seidel to cross the plate for an unearned run.

North Florida responded in the top of the eighth, extending their advantage as the Eagles’ pitching struggled with command. White drew a bases-loaded walk to score Collins, and Benjamin followed with a sacrifice fly to bring home Boone Hosey, handing the Ospreys a 5-1 lead.

FGCU refused to go quietly in the bottom half of the frame. Gorostola lifted a sacrifice fly to score Seidel, and Gonzalez followed with an RBI single to trim the deficit to 5-3.

However, the momentum vanished in the final frame. The Eagles were unable to cut into the lead further as they went down in order in the bottom of the ninth, securing the win for the Ospreys.

Dakota Stone (5-2) earned the win for North Florida, putting together a marathon performance by allowing three runs (two earned) on just four hits while striking out seven in seven innings of work. Dempsey (3-2) was charged with the loss for the Eagles, surrendering three runs on four hits while racking up eight strikeouts in five innings.

FGCU remains at home to host Florida Atlantic on Tuesday, April 28, at Swanson Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.