The FGCU baseball team (0-1) lost a 6-3 decision to Bethune-Cookman (1-0) to open the season Friday night at Swanson Stadium.
The Eagles finished with four hits in the first game of the new campaign and conceded seven to the Wildcats.
"We are definitely not going to go undefeated," FGCU coach Dave Tollett said. "We have a lot of work to do. We hope tonight was just first-game jitters."
"It feels great to get my first Division I coaching win, but more importantly a win for this program," said Bethune first-year head coach Jonathan Hernandez afterwards. "The guys worked hard all fall and leading into the spring, and I can't say enough about the assistant coaches as well. Everybody has come together and bought into what we're teaching, and it showed tonight with a big win against a very good team."
Seniors Keith Stevens and Eric Gonzalez, junior Alex Brait and sophomore Christian Proffitt all had hits for the Green and Blue. Gonzalez tallied an RBI and the three runs were scored by juniors Richie Garcia and Anthony Gonnella, and sophomore Brian Ellis. Gonnella made his debut as a double transfer after spending his freshman year at USF before transferring to NJCAA State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) his sophomore year.
Sophomore Nikolas Bitner went 5.0 innings on the mound and finished with a no-decision after conceding two runs (one earned) on two hits. He struck out three and walked just two. Bitner was making his debut after spending his freshman year at NJCAA Indian River State.
Junior Sebastian Gruszecki (0-1) tossed the next 2.0 frames and allowed two runs (one earned) on three hits to take the loss. Senior Justin Gill and junior Keegan Collett also saw time on the mound. Collett was making his debut after spending his freshman and sophomore years at NJCAA Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa.
Josten Heron and Danny Rodriguez both had two hits for the visitors. Brady Van Hook drew three walks and scored twice, and Joseph Fernando and Zach Spivey each recorded two RBIs.
Anthony Maldonado pitched the first 5.0 innings for the Wildcats and allowed a pair of runs on three hits. He struck out four and walked one. Jordan Pinto (1-0) tossed the next 2.0 frames and earned the win after not allowing a run. Brandon Wilkes threw the final 2.0 innings to collect the save.
FGCU took an initial 2-1 lead after two innings. Gonzalez doubled home Gonnella, and Ellis scored on a wild pitch after getting hit during his at-bat.
Bethune-Cookman scratched across a game-tying run in the fifth and then plated two go-ahead tallies in the seventh. Both teams added an extra run in the eighth, and the Wildcats completed the scoring with one final insurance marker in the top of the ninth.
The Eagles had an opportunity to do some damage to the scoreboard by loading the bases with one out in the eighth, but they were held to just one run in the frame.
Other players that made their debuts with FGCU included truue freshmen Jalen Townsend (Winter Park HS) and Joe Kinker (Venice HS). Both came in as a pinch hitter (Kinker) and a pinch runner (Townsend).
Up Next:
The series for the two sides will continue at 2 p.m. Feb. 16 (Saturday) and conclude at 1 p.m. Feb. 17 (Sunday). FGCU will then play host to Ohio State out of the Big Ten at 5 p.m. Feb. 18 (Monday). The first 11 games of the season for the Eagles will be contested at Swanson Stadium.
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