Thursday, May 07, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. - The FGCU baseball team used their bats to take No. 9 Florida. The Eagles recorded 20 hits to upset the Gators by a score of 17-5 on Wednesday night at McKethan Stadium.

The Eagles banged out 20 hits to down the Gators as Jacob Barnes (St. Petersburg, Fla.) earned his win as an Eagle. Barnes (1-1) threw four scoreless innings, and allowed only three hits, and struck out a season high six Gators. Justin Poovey (2-1) received his first loss of the season. Poovey threw four innings, allowed eight hits and seven earned runs.

Josh Chester (Weston, Fla.) extended his hitting streak to 20 games, while Joe Guarnaccia (Davie, Fla.) tied a season high three hits.

After two innings of hitless baseball, the Eagles Joe Guarnaccia singled off Justin Poovey’s leg for the first hit of the game. With runners at the corners and two out, Mikel Alvarez (West Palm Beach, Fla.) drew a walk. With the bases loaded, Tim Roberson (West Palm Beach, Fla.) hit one deep to left field that left McKethan Stadium for his 18th home run, and his second grand slam of the season.

The Gators threatened in the bottom of the third, loading the bases with one out. FGCU starter Jason Forjet (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) would get out of the jam after Daniel Pigott popped out to second, and Preston Tucker grounded out to second to end the inning.