DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - With 62 runs scored in their last five games, the Wildcats will look to round out the meat of their non-conference schedule with a meeting with Florida Gulf Coast. The three game series begins Friday, March 7 at 6:30 p.m. at Swanson Stadium in Fort Myers.



Friday-Sunday, March 7-9
Opponent: Florida Gulf Coast (4-8)
Time: 6:30 | 2:00 | 1:00
Location: Fort Myers, Fla. | Swanson Stadium
Watch: https://plus.espn.com/
Live Stats: https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=564587



The Wildcats showed no fear of No. 6 Florida State as they launched a trio of homers in a narrow 9-7 defeat, Wednesday night at Dick Howser Stadium. 

After a quiet first inning for the Wildcats (6-7), Florida State (12-0) jumped on B-CU starter Angel Lopez for a pair of runs on an RBI double before the Wildcats turned to usual midweek starter Brandon Vazquez out of the bullpen. Vazquez surrendered a single and a sacrifice fly as the Seminoles took an early 4-0 win.

The Seminoles threatened again in the second with a pair of two-out singles, but nothing came across. 

B-CU got on the board in the top of the third as Reinaldo Plascencia walked to open the inning, advancing to third on a wild pitch and single. Darryl Lee plated the first run of the night for the Cats, scoring Plascencia and forcing the Seminoles to turn to the bullpen. 

The Wildcats climbed back to within one in the top of the fourth as Jorge Rodriguez and Manny Souffrain sent back-to-back two-out solo homers to cut the deficit to 4-3

Florida State kept the Wildcats at arms length in the bottom of the inning with an RBI single and three-run homer to make it 8-3.

Jesus Vanegas took one back in the top of the fifth. B-CU threatened more, putting runners on second and third with two outs, but a strikeout ended the opportunity.

Again the Wildcats found another opportunity in the sixth, as an error loaded up the bases for Lee, but another strikeout left B-CU empty-handed.

The Seminoles plated another run in the sixth as they loaded the bases with a walk and two singles, scoring their ninth run of the game on a bases-loaded free pass.

After stranding runners in each of the next two frames, the Wildcats offense found life in the top of the ninth. As the Seminoles turned to the bullpen again to start the inning, Lee opened the ninth with an RBI double. Michael Rodriguez followed with a single before Vanegas cleared the bases with a three-run homer - his third of the year.

The Wildcats put runners on first and second with two outs, but could not muster another run as they fell, 9-7. 

Angel Lopez took the loss after allowing four runs without recording an out.

Brandon Vazquez worked three impressive innings of scoreless ball, scattering three hits with a pair of strikeouts.

After Robert Lastra and Julian Carrasquilla worked the middle innings, Aaron Shaefer closed things out with two strong scoreless frames, allowing just a hit and a walk with three strikeouts. 




Coming off a 30-26 season in 2024, Florida Gulf Coast has battled through a tough start to the 2025 schedule, highlighted by a trip to No. 6 Georgia for a four-game weekend series. 

Outside of a 10-0 run-rule game on Saturday, each of the other three losses for FGCU against the Bulldogs came by only one run. Elsewhere in the early season, the Eagles dropped two of three to Fairfield before sweeping through Stony Brook at home.

The Eagles are batting .264 as a team with 14 homers and 61 walks to 121 strikeouts as a team. Sophomore infielder Javier Gorostola leads the way with a .457 average, five doubles, three homers, and 16 RBI on the year in 12 starts. Former Wildcat Robert Moya is just behind him with an OPS of .999, three homers, and 10 RBI.

On the mound, the Eagles have a team era of 5.50 with 95 strikeouts to 52 walks as a staff. Opponents are hitting .304 against them.

• The Wildcats lead the SWAC in walks and rank 30th nationally with 76.
• B-CU boasts the best fielding percentage in the conference at .966.
• B-CU is tied atop the SWAC leaderboard in team homers with 12 - the Wildcats hit just 14 as a team in the 2024 regular season. 
• The Cats rank sixth nationally in triples with six. 
• Over his last two games Jorge Rodrigues has gone 5-10 with three runs scored, seven RBI, a homer, and a walk.

Friday will mark the 40th meeting all-time between B-CU and FGCU. The Eagles hold a 25-14 advantage, with B-CU taking the last matchup, 5-1, in 2024. 


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