College Roundup: Florida Gulf Coast Keeps Rolling, Snaps South Florida’s Streak

@Sterlingk_37 strikes out the side 🔥🔥🔥 for his 7th save of the year, placing him 3rd in the country! @FGCU_Baseball wins it 2-1 pic.twitter.com/aWdd6mpuvO

— #ASUNBSB? (@ASUNBSB) March 23, 2017

No. 12 Florida Gulf Coast and South Florida are off to two of the best starts in the country. Going into Wednesday’s game in Fort Myers, the Eagles and Bulls were a combined 38-4. FGCU was off to its best start as a Division I program, and USF’s 19-game winning streak was the second-longest in the nation.

HOW THE TOP 25 FARED

(1) Louisville: off

(2) Oregon State: off

(3) Texas Christian: off

(4) Louisiana State: won, 8-2, vs. Southeastern Louisiana

(5) Cal State Fullerton: off

(6) Clemson: off

(7) South Carolina: won, 3-0, vs. Charleston Southern

(8) Texas Tech: won, 5-4, in 10 innings vs. Nevada-Las Vegas

(9) Arizona: off

(10) North Carolina: won, 6-2, at (25) East Carolina

(11) Mississippi: off

(12) Florida Gulf Coast: won, 2-1, vs. South Florida

(13) Florida: off

(14) Florida State: off

(15) Louisiana-Lafayette: lost, 6-4, vs. Tulane

(16) St. John’s: won, 12-9, vs. St. Peter’s

(17) Stanford: off

(18) Missouri: off

(19) Virginia: won, 8-4, vs. Towson

(20) Baylor: off

(21) Oklahoma State: off

(22) Washington: lost, 8-7, at Gonzaga

(23) Michigan: won, 6-4, vs. Western Michigan

(24) Oklahoma: off

(25) East Carolina: lost, 6-2, vs. (10) North Carolina

In a tight game, FGCU prevailed for a 2-1 victory. The Eagles (19-3) have now won five games in a row and 15 of their past 16. The Bulls’ winning streak, which began Feb. 19, the third day of the season, came to an end.

The game featured a taut pitching matchup between Mario Leon (6 IP, 8 H, 1 R, 0 BB, 8 K) and Peter Strzelecki (6 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 4 K). FGCU took an early lead on second baseman Matt Reardon’s RBI single in the second inning. After USF (20-2) tied the game at one in the top of the sixth, catcher Spencer Levine blasted a solo home run to left in the bottom half of the inning to give the Eagles the lead again.

Levine’s home run proved to be the winning margin, as Kenton Hering and Sterling Koerner combined for three scoreless innings of relief. Koerner struck out the side in the ninth inning on 11 pitches to earn his seventh save of the season. It was Koerner’s 14th career save, tying the program’s all-time record.

“USF is a very good baseball team, and it was two great baseball teams going at it tonight,” coach Dave Tollett said. “We got a great effort from Mario and a big hit from Spencer Levine. It was a great, quality baseball game. If we can pitch, not give away any freebies and play defense, we’re going to win a lot of baseball games. Our guys continue to play with confidence, and they believe they’re the best team in the state of Florida right now.”

In Wednesday’s lone game between Top 25 teams, No. 10 North Carolina defeated No. 25 East Carolina, 6-2. The Pirates (14-8) have now lost four straight home games after getting swept by Mercer over the weekend at Clark-LeClair Field.

Outfielder Brandon Riley (3-for-4, HR, 2B, 4 RBIs) led North Carolina’s offense and righthander Rodney Hutchinson threw 4.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen. The Tar Heels (16-5) have won five of their past six games.

Tulane started the season just 1-7, but has found its footing of late. On Wednesday, it earned its biggest win of the season, going on the road to defeat No. 15 Louisiana-Lafayette, 6-4. The Green Wave (8-13) have won five of their last six games.