Florida Gulf Coast University’s baseball team ended its season on May 23 with a narrow 6-5 defeat against North Alabama in the ASUN Tournament. The Eagles, seeded third, were one win away from reaching their fifth tournament championship game but saw their hopes dashed after a late-game double play sealed the outcome.
The game was marked by dramatic moments in the ninth inning. With runners on first and second and only one out, Nathan Gagnon’s line drive was caught by North Alabama’s Nash Rippen, who then doubled off Drew Seidel at second base to end the contest. “Rippen, with momentum pushing him inward, fired a throw that barely beat Seidel back to second base to double him up and thwart a potential 13th come-from-behind win for the Eagles this season,” according to FGCU’s announcement.
Gagnon finished his final game for FGCU going 2-for-5 with two runs batted in. Javier Gorostola contributed three hits and scored twice, while Jeremy Comer went 2-for-3 at bat and drove in two runs. Comer also earned All-Tournament honors after hitting .400 for the week with two home runs.
Pitchers Sebastian Lippman and Ashton Pocol both took line drives off their legs during the game but continued playing. Lippman allowed four runs—one earned—over six hits across several innings while Pocol held North Alabama scoreless over two innings of relief work.
North Alabama’s Rippen not only made key defensive plays but also led his team offensively by going 3-for-4 at bat with four RBIs. Dylan Coleman added four hits and scored twice as well.
The Eagles conclude their season with a record of 36 wins and 22 losses, marking their thirteenth campaign of achieving at least thirty-five victories over twenty-four years. This year also marks the seventh time since joining the ASUN Conference that FGCU has finished just one game shy of reaching the finals.
