NJIT photo gallery vs. FGCU

NEWARK, NJ—FGCU scored at least one run in every inning and had five different players hit a home run in the Eagles 20-1 victory over NJIT in ASUN Conference action Saturday afternoon at Riverfront Stadium.

FGCU (6-8 ASUN, 30-16) knocked out a season-best seven home runs in the game, including a grand slam by DH Nick Rivera in the top of the ninth. LF Eli Lovell and 3B Richie Garcia each posted a pair of home runs.

The winning pitcher for the Eagles was LHP Josh Dye (7-3), who pitched 6.0 innings, letting up seven hits and one run.  The Eagles bullpen held the Highlanders scoreless for the remainder of the game, allowing just two hits.

Rivera finished 2-for-6 with five RBI and two runs while three Eagles posted three RBI in the win – SS Julio Gonzalez (4-for-6; 4 runs; 3 RBI), 2b Matt Reardon (3-for-4; 3 RBI; 2 runs) and Lovell (3-for-5; 3 RBI; 2 runs).  RF Marc Coffers went 2-for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored.

NJIT's RHP Brett Lubreski (0-3) was credited with the loss.  Three Highlanders saw action Saturday – Aquib Ramkishun, James Sofield and Justin Chin.

The Highlanders DH Evan Pietronico's solo home run in the third inning was the only run NJIT would score Saturday.  Pietronico finished 2-for-4 with one run and one RBI.  LF Jesse Uttendorfer went 2-for-4 while C Cody Kramer finished 2-for-2.

FGCU plated the first run of the game on an RBI single to right field by C Alex Brait, scoring Reardon, who reached on a double to right center, taking a 1-0 lead.

The Eagles added a pair of runs in the top half of the second on a two-out double down the left field line by leadoff batter Gonzalez and a double to left center by Reardon, pushing the visitors lead to 3-0.

FGCU added to its lead in the top of the third, with a pair of home runs by Coffers (a two-run shot) and Gonzalez (solo shot to right field) for a 6-0 lead.

NJIT got on the board in the bottom of the third on a solo shot to right field by DH Evan Pietronico, his team-leading fourth of the season.

FGCU tacked on a single run in the top of the fourth off the bat of Garcia's fourth home run of the season, giving the Eagles a 7-1 lead.

The visitors added three runs in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly to center by Reardon and a two-run home run to left center by Lovell, extending the Eagles lead, 10-1.

FGCU's Garcia and Lovell knocked out their second home run of the game in the top of the sixth and seventh, plating the Eagles only runs of the inning.

The Eagles added two runs in the eighth and sixth in the ninth, on a grand slam by Rivera.

Both teams will conclude the three-game ASUN Conference series on Sunday at Riverfront Stadium.  First pitch is set for 11am.