TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – In a game that saw four lead changes from the fifth inning and on, #9 FGCU (24-6, 1-2 ASUN) and #19 FSU (19-11, 6-6 ACC) battled until the end, but the Eagles ultimately came out on the wrong end of the decision as the Seminoles won in walk-off fashion, 7-6, Tuesday night at Dick Howser Stadium.

With the score tied, 6-6, Taylor Walls' at-bat in the bottom of the ninth was extended as a foul ball dropped in front of the FGCU dugout, and the FSU shortstop went on to lead off the frame with a single up the middle. Walls was then put in motion on the third pitch of the next at-bat, and two-hole hitter Jackson Lueck hit a double down the right-field line that scored his teammate standing up to end the game. 

The loss marks FGCU's third straight after winning 10 in a row for the second time this season and getting off to its best start in program history at 24-3. It was the Eagles' first loss in their last four games versus the Seminoles, who evened the season series at one game apiece. Additionally, it was the Green and Blue's first road loss of the season.

"Mario (Leon) was under the weather tonight, and he gave us a tremendous effort," said FGCU head coach Dave Tollett. "He came out and pitched for the name on the front of the jersey, and I'm proud of his effort, as sick as he was. It was two great programs going against each other. We knew there was going to be a big hit to end it, it was just a matter of whether it was us or them."

The back-and-forth affair started in the top of the fourth inning when FGCU got right back in the game on a two-run home run from designated hitter Nick Rivera (Cape Coral, Fla./Bishop Verot HS). FSU starter Andrew Karp retired the first two Eagles of the inning, but Corey Fehribach (Douglasville, Ga./West Georgia CC/Alexander HS) kept the inning alive before Rivera blasted his sixth home run of the season and 32nd of his FGCU career over the fence in left-center field. With the two-run blast, Rivera set the FGCU all-time record with 181 in his career.

An inning later, Jake Smith (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Prep) stepped in the box to start the fifth and brought FGCU even with the Seminoles as he deposited a 1-1 pitch over the glove of a leaping Lueck in left field. The Eagles then grabbed the lead when Eli Lovell (Lincoln, Neb./Kansas City Kansas CC/Lincoln Southwest HS) lined out to Walls at short, who then made an ill-advised throw to first to try and double off Gage Morey (West Palm Beach, Fla./PB Central HS). The ball skipped under the glove of Draw Mendoza and allowed Julio Gonzalez (Bayamon, Puerto Rico/Seminole State College (OK)/Brito Miami Private HS) to score, giving FGCU a 4-3 lead.

However, FSU answered back in its next at-bat as Lueck hit a RBI single to center field. FGCU starting pitcher Mario Leon (Naples, Fla./Gulf Coast HS), who was battling an illness in tonight's game, was relieved by side-armer Christian Townsend (Safety Harbor, Fla./Countryside HS) after a one-out single from Rhett Aplin in the bottom of the fifth. The Seminoles later reclaimed the lead as Dylan Busby drew a bases-loaded walk off Townsend.

FGCU again reclaimed the lead, though, in the top of the sixth inning when Smith stayed hot and ripped a two-RBI double down the right-field line. Rivera drew a leadoff walk in the frame while Richie Garcia (Davie, Fla./West Broward HS) hit a single to center, and both came in to score on Smith's second and third RBI of the game. However, FGCU ran itself out of the inning as an unconventional 5-4-6-3 double play ended the threat to tack on more.

Teams continued to go back-and-forth in the bottom of the sixth as Henderson hit a one-out double that brought Kenton Hering (4-2, 2.29) into the game. After Hering (Melbourne, Fla./Eastern Florida State/Viera HS) got Walls to pop up to center on the first pitch, Lueck traded places with Henderson at second base and tied the score for the second time in the game.

Both teams went scoreless in their next two at-bats, and FSU closer Drew Carlton was able to hold the FGCU offense in check in the top of the ninth before the Seminoles won it in the home half.

Offensively, FGCU matched FSU with 11 hits in the game, marking the Eagles 15th game with double-digit hits this season. Gonzalez led the way with a 3-for-4 night at the plate and came up a home run shy of the cycle. Smith also had a big night as he turned in his second home run of the season to go along with a two-RBI double.

UP NEXT
Game two of the two-game midweek set against the Seminoles is scheduled for tomorrow at 4 p.m. at Dick Howser Stadium. Pitchers for both teams are yet to be announced. Follow us on social media for game updates as severe weather is in tomorrow's forecast.  

TICKETS
Single game and season ticket packages for the 2017 FGCU baseball season are now on sale. Season tickets for games contested at Swanson Stadium can be purchased for $99, while single game tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for youth (12 and under), military and groups. For questions or more information, please contact the FGCU Ticket Office at 239-590-7145.

FOLLOW ALONG
For constant, news, photos, videos and updates you can follow the baseball team on Twitter @FGCU_Baseball, Instagram @FGCU_Baseball or on Facebook: Facebook.com/FGCUBaseball. You can also find FGCU athletics on YouTube by visiting YouTube.com/FGCUEagles.

DAVE TOLLETT
In his 15th season of work, FGCU head coach Dave Tollett has compiled a 514-302-3 record (.628) as the only head coach in the program's history. He is a four-time ASUN Coach of the Year and has guided the Green and Blue to four ASUN Regular Season Championships. His team has been ranked nationally on several occasions by multiple media outlets and has coached 42 All-Conference selections, 27 draft picks, three current major leaguers, 15 current minor leaguers, four ASUN Pitchers of the Year, four All-Americans, two ASUN Players of the Year, one National Freshman Player of the Year, one National Player of the Year and one five-time MLB All-Star.

#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visitwww.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.