FORT MYERS, Fla. -
Evan Dempsey's bases loaded single on an 0-2 pitch with two out in the bottom of the ninth plated
Charles Davalan with the winning run as Florida Gulf Coast University defeated the University of South Florida 3-2 at Swanson Stadium Tuesday night.
With unseasonably cool temperatures and a wind blowing in from center, runs were at a premium throughout the night. The score was tied 2-2 through the final four innings until the home half of the ninth. Davalan legged out an infield hit to start the inning, but the Eagles would soon be down to the final out before the end of regulation play. A chopper deep down the third base line allowed
Harrison Povey to reach with an infield hit, and when USF was late covering the bag at third, Davalan slid in safely to put the winning run 90-feet away.
Javier Gorostola would walk, setting the stage for Dempsey's dramatics.
After taking the first pitch for a strike, the freshman fouled off the next pitch to find himself in an 0-2 hole. Dempsey would choke up on his bat, fighting off a pair of tough pitches before the fifth pitch of the plate appearance. His one-handed swing at the ball sailed towards shallow center field, just out of the reach of the USF shortstop. Davalan motored home, and the rest of the Eagles made a charge towards Dempsey, mobbing him in celebration after the game-winning RBI.
FGCU (10-10) loaded the bases in the first but only put one on the board as Gorostola lifted a sacrifice fly to plate the first run of the game. USF (11-9) scored single runs in the second and the fifth to take a 2-1 lead. The Eagles knotted the game back up at 2-2 in the bottom of the inning. With Povey on first after a four-pitch walk, Gorostola worked the count full with two out. Povey would take off on the next pitch and Gorostola ripped a shot down the line in left. FGCU's centerfielder scored standing up to tie the game once again.
The Eagles, who have won five in a row, got another strong pitching performance from the staff.
Derek Crum allowed two runs in 4.2 innings.
Ryland Bozenhard got the next five outs without allowing a run and fanning two.
Jake Bunz needed just seven pitches to get the last two outs of the sixth, and
Nick Love (2-1) allowed only one hit in two scoreless innings of work.
FGCU will be off until Friday when it faces Kennesaw State to start an Atlantic Sun Conference series in Kennesaw, Ga. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
