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Michigan Baseball: Getting to know NCAA opponent Florida Gulf Coast

By Chris Peterson

Apr 15, 2017; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines marching band member is seen during the Michigan Spring Game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 15, 2017; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines marching band member is seen during the Michigan Spring Game at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Michigan baseball will play Florida Gulf Coast in the first round of the NCAA baseball tournament, here’s a little info on the Eagles.

The Michigan baseball team got some good news Monday, as they were selected as an at-large team in the 64-team NCAA tournament field.

Related Story: Michigan earns at-large berth in NCAA baseball tournament

However, the Wolverines also got some bad news. They were one of the last teams picked into the field, which means their road to the Super Regional seems somewhat impossible.

For starers, Michigan baseball is the No. 3 seed in the Chapel Hill region. That region just happens to be hosted by North Carolina, the No.2 overall seed in the entire tournament.

So that poses a big enough challenge for Michigan. Yet another one, will be the Wolverines’ first-round opponent, Florida Gulf Coast.

You may remember FGCU for its basketball team’s run to the Sweet 16 as a 15 seed a few years back. Now, the Eagles are making their first appearance in the NCAA baseball tournament. They clinched their bid by winning the ASUN baseball tournament championship last weekend.

Seeing as the Eagles are making their first trip to the NCAA baseball tournament, it might seem like a good draw for Michigan, but that would be wrong. The Wolverines might beat the Eagles, but it won’t be easy by any stretch of the imagination.

Michigan Wolverines Football
Michigan Wolverines Football /

Michigan Wolverines Football

Early in the season, FGCU played Florida, the third overall seed in the NCAA tournament and beat them on back-to-back days, 7-3 and 3-2. The Eagles also took two of three from Ohio State, beat Florida State a regional host and South Florida, another ranked team. They also swept Rutgers.

Julio Gonzalez, who leads the team with a .337 batting average and Nick Rivera, who has a team-high 17 home runs, are the top offensive threats for the Eagles, who scored 6.2 runs per game and had a team average of .282.

When it comes to pitching, Kutter Crawford is the top arm of FGCU. He has a 7-1 record and an ERA of just 1.58. He also has 91 strikeouts in 79 innings and allows opposing hitters to bat just .191.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see Cutter on the mound Friday against Michigan. Josh Dye, Garrett Anderson and Peyton Grey round out the rotation. All have an ERA under four. As a team, the Eagles have an ERA of 3.65 and have stuck out 515 batters in 533 innings pitched.

While FGCU is making its NCAA debut, as I pointed out earlier its no stranger to beating good teams. Michigan baseball, on the other hand, has beaten only one ranked team this season, Oklahoma.

The winner of Michigan-FGCU, will play either North Carolina or Davidson next. Seeing as the Tar Heels are the overall two seed, it will likely be them.

Next: Top 10 Michigan Running Backs of All Time

First, Michigan baseball will take on FGCU Friday at 1 p.m EST.

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