05/07/2026

MIAMI — The Florida Gulf Coast University baseball team (30-17) beat Florida International University (15-33) 9-8 on Wednesday at FIU Baseball Stadium.

The Eagles broke a 5-5 tie in the fifth inning when Cayden Hessemyer hit a single through the left side, stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error and scored on a wild pitch after Jeremy Comer drew a walk to get on base. Cole Lasher followed with a sacrifice fly to left field bringing home Jeremy Comer to give FGCU a 7-5 lead.

FGCU added another insurance run in the sixth inning when Wilfred Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to center field scoring Evan Dempsey. Dempsey reached base after drawing a walk, advanced to second on a walk by Jon Embury, and eventually stole third to set up the sac fly.

The Eagles’ final run came in the seventh inning when Comer hit a leadoff solo home run on a 2-2 count. FIU tried to rally in the ninth when Samuel Fischer hit a two-out, three-run home run to center field that scored Cole Cleveland and Trey Freeman. However, the next Panthers batter grounded out to shortstop to end the game.

FGCU opened the game taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning on an RBI single by Jaret Nelson that scored Dempsey. FIU answered in the bottom half of the first with a three-run home run by Andrew Ildefonso.

The Eagles regained the lead with three runs in the top of the second. Comer scored when Juan Santos grounded into a double play, and Dempsey followed with a two-run home run that brought home Cole Lasher. The Panthers responded in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single by Fischer to tie the game at 4-4.

FIU regained a 5-4 lead in the third following an FGCU defensive miscue. With runners on, a failed pickoff attempt resulted in a throwing error by the pitcher, allowing Ildefonso to score an unearned run. The Eagles answered in the fourth inning with a solo home run by Nathan Gagnon to tie the game at 5-5.

Ryan Rushing (2-0) earned the win in relief, striking out five across three innings. Quin McManmon (1-1) took the loss, giving up two runs on one hit in one inning of relief.

FGCU returns to Swanson Stadium for its final home conference series when it opens a three-game Atlantic Sun Conference set Friday against West Georgia. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m.