Box Score FORT MYERS, Fla. – After falling behind 4-0 in the first three innings, Stony Brook stormed back to tie the game in the fourth but ultimately fell to Florida Gulf Coast, 8-5, on Saturday afternoon in Fort Myers.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Johnny Pilla started a Seawolves two-out rally in the first by drawing a walk and stealing second base, but he was left stranded as the Eagles ended the inning with a strikeout.
- FGCU struck first in their opening frame, scoring two runs on back-to-back RBI singles off Nicholas Rizzo.
- The Seawolves stranded two runners in both the second and third innings, despite hits from Nico Azpilcueta, Erik Paulsen, and Pilla. Rizzo stranded a runner at second base in the second, but the Eagles added two more runs in the third to extend their lead to 4-0.
- Stony Brook responded in the fourth with a four-run rally to tie the game. Azpilcueta reached on an error, followed by a walk from Kincaid Bergthold and a single from Chris Carson to load the bases with no outs. Matt Miceli reached on a fielder's choice, scoring Azpilcueta, and Evan Goforth drove in Carson and Miceli with an RBI double, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Chanz Doughty capped off the inning by tying the game with an RBI single.
- Paulsen took over for Rizzo in the fourth, but FGCU regained the lead with a home run and an RBI double, making it 6-4.
- In the fifth, Bergthold drew a one-out walk, stole second, and scored on a Miceli single, trimming the deficit to 6-5.
- Ryan Dieguez entered the game in the fifth for the Seawolves and struck out the first batter he faced. However, FGCU added a run on a triple and a sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 7-5.
- The Eagles tacked on another run in the sixth, making it 8-5.
- Carson doubled and Miceli walked in the seventh, bringing the tying run to the plate, but FGCU held their lead.
- The Eagles retired the final six Seawolves to secure the 8-5 victory.
STATS AND NOTES
- Pilla now has a hit in three straight games and recorded his second three-hit game of the season, going 3-for-4 with a walk.
- Carson tallied his first multi-hit game of the season, finishing 2-for-4 with a double and a walk.
- Mike Villani and James Schaffer both registered their first collegiate at-bats.
- Paulsen and Azpilcueta each recorded a base hit.
- Miceli recorded his first RBI and extra-base hit of the season, finishing 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI.
- Goforth added another double, collecting two RBI in the game.
- Rizzo made his second start of the season, allowing seven runs over 3.0 innings while striking out four.
- Jacob Pedersen pitched 0.2 scoreless innings, striking out one.
- Matt Sgambati was spotless over 2.0 innings out of the bullpen, recording two strikeouts.
- Ryan Dieguez allowed two runs over 1.1 innings in his first career appearance for Stony Brook.
- The Seawolves have recorded 10 or more hits in their last three games.
- Stony Brook is now 0-2 all-time against FGCU.
NEXT UP
The final game of the three-game series is set for 1:00 p.m. tomorrow afternoon in Fort Myers. The game can be watched live on ESPN+.
