Florida Gulf Coast University's baseball team experienced another setback on Friday, losing 3-0 to Jacksonville. This marks the first time this season and in program history that the Eagles have been held scoreless in consecutive games. After suffering an 8-0 defeat in the first game of the series, FGCU remains winless against Jacksonville thus far, with a combined score of 11-0 against them. The team now stands at 15-23 overall and 6-11 in ASUN competition. They aim to prevent a series sweep in their upcoming Saturday match, set to begin at 1 p.m.

On Thursday, FGCU managed only three hits in their initial loss. In Friday’s game, despite playing in a pitcher-friendly stadium, the Eagles could muster just four hits. Although some of their swings seemed promising enough for home runs in Fort Myers, they resulted in long outs in Jacksonville. Cayden Hessemyer was the standout performer for the Eagles, achieving two hits out of four attempts in his effort to level the series.

Evan Dempsey delivered an exceptional performance on the mound. Throwing over 100 pitches across seven innings without conceding any runs, he struck out nine batters, one shy of his career-high. During a particularly dominant stretch, Dempsey retired 16 consecutive batters, showcasing his skillful pitching technique. He limited Jacksonville to just four hits while issuing only one walk.

Despite Dempsey's stellar efforts, his success was overshadowed by the FGCU bullpen's struggles. Once Dempsey exited the game in the eighth inning, Jacksonville quickly capitalized, scoring three crucial runs. In the ninth inning, FGCU had a chance to rally but ultimately ended the game with a strikeout, a popup, and a groundout.

In their recent conference outings, Dempsey has displayed remarkable prowess, striking out 30 batters and allowing only two runs over 26 innings. Yet, his contributions have translated into just one victory. As FGCU prepares for their next game, they will need to find ways to support their standout pitcher if they hope to secure a win and avoid being swept in the series.