FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Wildcats look to continue a hot start to the 2024 season as they head to Fort Myers to take on the Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast for a three-game set, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 23-25, at Swanson Stadium.



Friday-Saturday, February 23-25
Opponent: FGCU (0-4, 0-0 ASUN)
Time: 6:30pm | 2pm | 1pm 
Location: Fort Myers, Fla. | Swanson Stadium
Live Stats: http://statb.us/b/502842
Watch: https://www.espn.com/search/_/q/florida%20gulf%20coast/o/watch/appearance/dark



Junior right-hander Dylan Dudones pitched five solid innings in his first-ever NCAA Division I start Tuesday evening, as Bethune-Cookman defeated visiting Florida International, 10-4 in nonconference baseball action inside Jackie Robinson Ballpark.
 
Bethune-Cookman struck early, plating three runs in the bottom of the second inning.
 
Jose Gonzalez walked, and Manny Souffrain also drew a base on balls to put a runner in scoring position for the Wildcats. Junior shortstop Ramses Cordova then delivered an RBI single to third base to drive in Gonzalez for the game's opening score. Irvin Escobar followed with an RBI single to score Souffrain from third. Colton Olasin capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to bring home Cordova and give BCU a 3-0 advantage.
 
Bethune-Cookman extended the lead to 5-0 with two more runs in the fourth.
 
After Rivera and Cordova walked, Escobar reached on a throwing error charged to FIU third baseman Brylan West that allowed both BCU base runners to score on the play, respectively.
 
FIU (3-1) finally broke through on Dudones in the top of the fifth inning.
 
Leadoff hitter Brylan West tripled to right center to plate Roylan Quevedo. Meanwhile, Ryne Guida followed with an RBI single as FIU cut the deficit to 7-2.
 
BCU answered in kind with a pair of runs in the home-half of the inning.
 
Garrett Chun drew a leadoff walk to begin the at-bat for the Cats, before eventually moving to third on a failed pickoff attempt from relief pitcher Cameron Knox on his throw to shortstop Alex Ulloa at second. Souffrain immediately delivered a two-run single to center scoring Chun and Jorge Gonzalez Febo.
 
After FIU pulled a pair of runs back in the top of the seventh, it didn't take the Wildcats long to respond with three additional runs in the bottom of the inning.
 
Febo singled and stole second base before coming around to score on a bases-loaded RBI walk taken by Escobar. That allowed BCU second baseman Olasin to deliver a two-run double to center and push the BCU advantage out to 10-2.
 
Dudones (1-0) earned the win in his first start, as the FSC Jacksonville product went five innings on the mound, allowing two runs on six hits, one walk and registering two strikeouts. The loss went to FIU starter Richie Pena (0-1) as he lasted just three innings before being chased, giving up three runs on three hits, two walks and three strikeouts for the Panthers.
 
BCU also used Dylan Vega out of the bullpen for three innings, followed by the final frame being pitched by Jeffrey Gonzalez. Combined, the bullpen allowed just two runs on three hits over the final four innings of play.
 
FIU was led offensively by West as he posted a 3-for-4 effort at the dish with a run scored and one driven in. Designated hitter Ryne Guida added a 3-for-5 night with the bat, also recording an RBI and run scored himself.
 
The Cats were led offensively by six different players with a hit each, including Olasin's 1-for-3 effort with three RBIs. Escobar and Souffrain also tallied two RBIs each for the Maroon and Gold.



Florida Gulf Coast entered the 2024 season off a 42-18 finish a season ago, ending in a loss to the ASUN's #1 seed, Lipscomb, in the championship game a season ago. FGCU was picked to finish second in the ASUN this season.

The Eagles are off to an 0-4 start this year, though their first three losses came against the No. 5 team in the nation, T-CU. They took close losses to the Horned Frogs at 10-9, 13-10, and 11-6, with FGCU holding a lead in all three games. On Wednesday, FGCU dropped a 5-2 decision to Indiana State.

Two Eagles, sophomore center fielder Jacob Lojewski and senior two-way player Harrison Povey were each named to the ASUN All-Conference team prior to this season. 

Through the first week of play, the Eagles rank top-three in the ASUN in hits, RBI, homers, and total bases. 

• Through the first week of play, the Wildcats rank top four in the SWAC in batting, and top-two in pitching. They are one of only four SWAC schools with a 3-1 or better record to start the season.
• Manny Sourffrain ranks near to top of the SWAC in batting average, slugging, OBP, and wals runs scored.
• Garrett Chun is the only Wildcat to record a hit in every game to start the season. He rides a four-game hit streak into this weekend.

Friday marks the 37th all-time meeting between FGCU and B-CU. The Eagles have won three straight against the Wildcats, most recently sweeping a weekend series at Jackie Robinson Ballpark back in 2022. 


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