The FGCU baseball team narrowly avoided a road loss against FIU on Wednesday.
With one out away from the win, FGCU’s 9-5 lead in the bottom of the ninth was down to one after FIU (15-33, 6-18 CUSA) hit a three-run home run.
On the next at bat, right-handed pitcher Sebastian Lippman and his defense recorded the final groundout needed to sweep the season series over FIU and become the first Atlantic Sun (ASUN) team to record 30 wins this season.
FGCU right fielder Evan Dempsey opened the scoring, reaching home from second base off first baseman Jaret Nelson’s single through the right side.
Eagles starting pitcher Logan Eisenbarth issued two consecutive walks to open the game and then gave up a home run to make it 3-1.
Three consecutive singles loaded the bases for FGCU in the second inning, but only one batter came home on a double play. Dempsey hit a two-run home run on the following at bat to put FGCU ahead 4-3.
Eisenbarth was replaced in the second inning by Jordan Vera, who gave up the hit for the tying run as FIU catcher Marc Hersh scored from second base following a single. Eisenbarth was credited with giving up the run.
Eisenbarth left the game after throwing 46 pitches, giving up two hits, four runs (all earned) and recording just one strikeout through 1.2 innings.
FIU regained the lead, 5-4, after a failed pickoff attempt. Vera held on and recorded a crucial strikeout after the error, leaving two runners stranded to escape the inning.
FGCU center fielder Nathan Gagnon recorded a solo home run to tie the game in the fourth. In the bottom of the inning, Eagles head coach Dave Tollett turned to left-handed pitcher Ryan Rushing to pitch.
Rushing struck out two batters in the fourth.
What followed was Rushing’s best performance of the season. He was credited with the win after pitching three innings without giving up a run, recording a career-high five strikeouts and one groundout.
FGCU scored four runs across the next three innings. The Eagles added two runs in the fifth – one run off a wild pitch and another off a sacrifice fly. Dempsey reached home off a sacrifice fly in the sixth and Jeremy Comer, FGCU’s designated hitter, hit a solo home run in the seventh.
Dempsey and Comer both reached home three times against FIU.
Trailing 9-5, FIU tried to rally a comeback in the ninth by scoring a three-run home run, but Lippman and his defense held on for the win.
FGCU returns to Swanson Stadium for its final homestand of the season when it hosts West Georgia in a three-game series beginning May 8.
