College roundup: FGCU baseball gets second win over Jackson State

The No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast University baseball team beat Jackson State 6-4 in the second of a three-game home series on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles held a 2-0 lead after the fourth inning on an RBI single by Eli Lovell and sacrifice fly by Alex Brait. FGCU increased its lead to 4-1 in the fifth on an RBI double Corey Fehribach and a sac fly by Lovell. The Eagles capped the win with two more runs in the eighth on RBI doubles by Matt Reardon and Julio Gonzalez.

Peyton Gray picked up the win, allowing two runs on three hits, while striking out six in 5 2/3 innings. Kutter Crawford got the save, giving up two runs on three hits, while striking out five in three innings.

"It was a very emotional day for us," FGCU coach Dave Tollett said of the honoring of the life of former FGCU player Alex Diaz, who died in a car accident last August. "Alex's smile was always radiant, and he loved to play the game of baseball. It was a great tribute and a great way to pay respect for all Alex did for FGCU baseball. On the field, I thought Peyton (Gray) pitched exceptionally well and the bullpen did its job. Those insurance runs at the end proved to be huge, and the eighth inning was big for us again today."

FGCU (21-3) looks to sweep the series against Jackson State on Sunday at 1 p.m.

SOUTHEASTERN 14, AVE MARIA 5: Southeastern held an 11-1 lead after the first four innings and never looked back.

AMU scored a run in the fourth with Ryan Keegan coming home on a passed ball. The Gyrenes added three more runs in the fifth on an RBI single by Keegan and a two-run double by Andy Hernandez. AMU’s final run came in the ninth, with Tully Allen scoring on a wild pitch.

SOUTHEASTERN 8, AMU 2: The Gyrenes scored two runs in the ninth inning on an RBI double by Mason Dinesen and a sacrifice fly by Justin Hartshorne.

AMU (16-22, 3-11 Sun Conference) travels to St. Petersburg to play Eckerd on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

FLORIDA SOUTHWESTERN 3, SOUTH FLORIDA STATE 2: The Buccaneers overcame a 2-0 deficit in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run single by Carter Smith and a sacrifice fly by John O’Connor.

Davie Inman picked up the win, giving up two runs on nine hits, while striking out six in six innings.

FSW (20-19, 6-9 Suncoast Conference) hosts Hillsborough Community on Monday at 6 p.m.

SOFTBALL

FGCU 6, JACKSONVILLE 2: Racquel Fournet had a three-run homer in the third, and FGCU added three more runs in the sixth, with another home run by Fournet and a two-run double by Morgan Sutherland.

Riley Randolph got the win, surrendering two runs on six hits, while striking out seven in seven innings.

JACKSONVILLE 3, FGCU 2: Jacksonville overcame a 2-1 deficit, scoring two runs in the top of the fifth, to take the split.

FGCU scored two runs in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Bri Innamorato and a home run by Brittany McGuire.

"Two good softball games," FGCU coach David Deiros said. "The key in the first game was when we answered back and got those three runs to expand the lead. We didn't do a good job in Game 2 of stopping them after we took the lead and that's the difference in the two ballgames. We just have to come out tomorrow and win the series."

The Eagles (19-14, 1-1 Atlantic Sun Conference) hosts Jacksonville again on Sunday at 1 p.m.

AMU 5, ST. THOMAS 1: The Gyrenes rallied from a 1-0 deficit in the top of the seventh on a two-run single by Marinna Shadley, an RBI single by Paige Aldred, and a two-run home run by Sadie Mosher.

Mosher picked up the win, allowing one run on four hits, while striking out five in seven innings.

AMU 13, ST. THOMAS 1: Mosher had a three-run homer in the third. The Gyrenes scored 10 more runs in the seventh on an RBI double by Shadley, Kalie Romig scoring on a hit by pitch of Mosher. Alyssa Colding hitting a two-run double, Deanna Stirtzinger hitting a two-run triple, Brittney Pressler hitting an RBI single, Romig hitting a sac fly, and Shadley hitting a two-run double.

Pressler picked up the win, surrendering one run on five hits, while striking out three in seven innings.

AMU (21-9, 6-3 TSC) hosts Warner on Friday at 4 p.m.

MEN’S GOLF

FAU SLOMIN AUTISM INVITATIONAL: FGCU improved to fourth of 13 teams after the second round of the three-round Florida Atlantic Slomin Autism Invitational at the PGA National Squire Course in Palm Beach.

The University of Central Florida maintains the lead with a two-round total of 580, followed by Jacksonville State (590) and Georgetown (592). FGCU has a score of 593 (298-295).

Andrew Potter leads the Eagles, with a total of 141 (69-72), followed by Doug Smith with a 149 (76-73), Keaton Jones with a 150 (78-72), Michael Keymont with a 154 (75-79), and Casper Howells with a 159 (81-78) for FGCU.

"The guys really played some good golf today, but it was unfortunate to lose some important strokes the last few holes," FGCU coach Eric Booker said, “Overall they have many things to be proud of heading into (the) final round. We improved our position in the field, so we're within striking distance of the leaders."

The final round is Sunday starting at 8:30 a.m.

WOMEN’S LACROSSE

SHORTER 19, AMU 7: Katelyn Sherman finished with three goals for the Gyrenes. Sarah Wade had two goals, while Abby Castro and Georgia Miller each scored one goal for AMU.

The Gyrenes (4-5) head to St. Louis, Missouri to play Lindenwood-Belleville on Saturday, April 1 at 1 p.m.

MEN’S TENNIS

NORTH FLORIDA 6, FGCU 1: The Eagles’ lone win came in singles, as Javier Fernandez beat Jonathan Deautriell, 6-3, 2-6, 10-8.

"Tonight was a tough match for us," FGCU coach CJ Weber said. "I want to thank all of the fans who came out and supported us tonight. It was our best crowd so far this year, and we're going to keep working hard to do better next time. UNF played great tonight and deserved the win."

FGCU (5-9, 1-1 A-Sun Conference) travels to Spartanburg, South Carolina, to play South Carolina Upstate on Thursday at 6 p.m.