FORT MYERS, Fla., - The FGCU Eagles dropped their second straight game after an 8-4 loss to #19 UCF on Wednesday night. The Eagles fall to 18-7 while UCF improves to 21-4 with the win.

The Knights got on the board early with two in the top of the first. A one out walk followed by a double by Colin Arnold giving UCF runners at the corners with one out. Shane Brown followed with a double to score a pair of runs. FGCU answered in the bottom of the first with a leadoff single by Josh Upchurch (Cape Coral, Fla.). A single by Jason Peacock (Bartow, Fla.) trimmed UCF’s lead to 2-1.

In the top of the second, the Knights erupted for five runs off six hits to take a 7-1 lead. FGCU plated a run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Vinnie Scarduzio (Jupiter, Fla.). FGCU added a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh. The Eagles scored on three errors and a walk by the Knights, cutting the lead to 7-4. UCF would add an insurance run in the eighth to take an 8-4 lead.

UCF starter Carmine Giardina picked up the win, going 6.0 innings with eight strikeouts. He allowed two runs off six hits to improve to 2-0 on the year. Patrick Nathanson fell to 0-2 after allowing six runs in 1.1 innings of work.

Dwayne Baily was 3-4 for the Knights with a pair of runs scored while Shane Brown also was 3-4 with three RBI in the game. UCF’s first four hitters went 8-18 and drove in seven runs while scoring six.

Jason Peacock was 2-3 for the Eagles and drew a pair of walks while Casey Coleman was 2-5 with a pair of doubles.

The A-Sun leading Eagles begin a three-game conference series at Campbell on Friday at 4:00 pm in Buies Creek, N.C.