FORT MYERS. Fla. - North Florida baseball dropped its first game on the road to Florida Gulf Coast, 7-3, at Swanson Stadium on Friday evening.

The Eagles plated one run in each of the first two innings, though the Ospreys were able to muster some momentum in the top of the third.

Ty Velardo and Nick Monile were both hit by a pitch to start the frame, with Monile later advancing to second base on a fielder's choice. From there, Connor Moore reached safely on a fielding error, scoring Monile to cut the Ospreys' deficit to 2-1. 

Florida Gulf Coast answered with one run in the fourth inning, two in the fifth and two more in the eighth en route to a 7-1 lead. However, the Ospreys didn't go down without a fight.

Mobile started the frame with a lead-off walk, then scored on a single up the middle by Tyler Gerteisen to bring UNF within five runs of the Eagles. With the bases loaded in the ensuing at bat, Drew Leinenbach plated the Ospreys' final run of the game with a walk before the score reached its final margin. 

PITCHERS OF RECORD
Win: Evan Dempsey (3-1)
Loss: Clay Hendry (5-4)

LINE SCORES
UNF | 3 R, 8 H, 1 E, 14 LOB
FGCU | 7 R, 12 H, 3 E, 4 LOB

STATISTICAL LEADERS
UNF
Tyler Gerteisen | 2-4, 1 RBI
Drew Leinenbach | 2-4, 1 RBI
Connor Moore | 2-5, 1 R

FGCU
Tyler Herb | 2-4, 1 RBI
Harrison Povey | 1-4, 2 RBI, 1 R

UP NEXT
North Florida takes the field for game two against FGCU on Saturday, May 3, at 2 p.m., in Fort Myers, Fla.