FORT MYERS, Fla. – Riding a four-game winning streak on its spring break trip, Rutgers baseball wraps up an 11-day stay in the Sunshine State with a weekend series at Florida Gulf Coast. The set starts Friday at 6:30 p.m. and it will be the third-straight season that the Scarlet Knights and Eagles meet at Swanson Stadium.
 
RU is coming off a 6-3 midweek victory over FIU in Port Charlotte that improved the team to 9-6, marking the best start since 2002. That followed a three-game sweep versus Army. The last time the program won four consecutive games away from Bainton Field was in April 2012.
 
Senior Milo Freeman went 3-for-3 with a home run against the Panthers to support the pitching staff, which used seven different arms to allow just two earned runs. FIU entered the week ranked fifth in the nation in homers, but were kept in the park. Freshman Collin Kiernan, redshirt sophomore Tommy Genuario, freshman Jacob Kodros, graduate student Karl Blum and redshirt junior Ryan Wares all logged scoreless appearances.
 
For the season, senior Kyle Walker is still ranked second in the nation in batting average at .515 following a 2-for-4 showing last time out. The third baseman is also eighth nationally with a .585 on-base percentage and is on a 10-game hitting streak. Junior Luke Bowerbank and freshman Mike Nyisztor both have eight hits and five RBIs to lead the lineup on the road trip, while junior Nick Matera has reached base safely in all 15 games in 2018.
 
The Scarlet Knights have improved offensively in numerous statistical categories to have 26 more runs through 15 games than at the same point last season. The 7.2 runs per game are second most among Big Ten teams and ranked No. 39 in the country. In addition, the bats have totaled 42 RBIs with two outs.
 
Senior John O'Reilly is coming off his best outing so this season and will make his 40^th career start on Friday to tie Matt Giannini (2006-10) for third-most in program history. Against Army, the right-hander began with seven scoreless frames before exiting with one run allowed and five strikeouts over 7.2 innings. Freshman Harry Rutkowski will take the ball on Saturday leading the staff with 18 strikeout. As a group, the pitchers have 45 more strikeouts than at this point last year.
 
THE OPPONENT
Florida Gulf Coast is listed at No. 27 in the latest Collegiate Baseball poll, making them the third ranked opponent this season for Rutgers. The Eagles had their seven-game winning streak snapped with a 10-3 loss on Tuesday. The lineup is averaging 8.4 runs per game with a .325 team batting average to sit seventh in the nation. Kohl Gilmore leads with seven homers, while Richie Garcia owns 24 RBIs. Friday starter Mario Leon is holding opponents to a .224 average against.
 
Then-No. 21 FGCU swept the three-game series last season to take a 4-3 all-time advantage. RU last won on March 16, 2016 by the score of 9-2. The first encounter took place in 2012.
 
UP NEXT
Rutgers will return to New Jersey to face Rider in Lawrenceville on Tuesday at 3:30 p.m.. It will be the final tune-up before Big Ten play starts at Bainton Field against Penn State next Friday.
 
Follow Rutgers Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@RUAthletics) for all of the latest news and updates. For specific updates regarding baseball, follow the program on Twitter (@RutgersBaseball), Instagram (@rutgersbaseball), Facebook (/BaseballRU) and Snapchat (rutgersbaseball).