The offense hit three home runs and scored 14 runs against NCAA Division 2 pitching in Saturday's twin bill at Edward Waters University. The three bombs came from two different men, and the 14 runs were split evenly between the two games. Edward Waters, though, had a big inning early in each game and won both by identical scores of 17-7.

Gadriel Burgos hit his first home run as an Eagle, a three-run shot, in top of the first in Game 1. Gavin Williams was hit by a pitch with two outs, and Larson Lott singled to set up Burgos, who launched a 1-0 pitch over the right-filed fence to give the Eagles a 3-0. For the three-game series that began on Friday, Burgos was 3 for 11 with 1 HR and 7 RBI. 

Sophomore Cooper Scruggs homered twice, once in each game. Scruggs hit a two-run blast in the top of the 8th of Game 1 that plated Seth Reeves (reached on error). In the second inning of Game 2, Scruggs launched a solo shot to right.

Scruggs finished the series 3 for 6 with 2 home runs, a walk, and 4 RBI. 

The offensive star, though, was Williams. The junior was 8 for 12 in the series, including 5 for 8 in the Saturday double-header. Williams had a double and drove in a run in Game 1; he notched a pair of two-baggers and 2 RBI in Game 2.

[Gavin Williams: 8 for 12, 3 2B, 4 R, 3 RBI in three games vs. NCAA Division 2 Edward Waters University]

Williams earned NCCAA Baseball's Offensive Player of the Week honors for his outstanding perofrmance in the three-game series. 

Also hitting well throughout Saturday's double-header were Dominic Gattinella (3 for 7, BB, 2R), Reeves (3 for 5, 2BB, R), and Logan McGann (2 for 8, 2 BB, RBI, 2 R). McGann (single) and Williams (double) had back-to-back run-scoring hits in the 2nd inning of Game 1. Williams (double), Burgos (ground ball), and Scruggs (single) all drove in runs in the 6th inning of Game 2. Reeves's RBI single in the 5th scored Williams, who led off the inning with a walk.

The Eagles will play their first two South Region opponents over the next two weekends; both series are at home. First, Bob Jones University comes to Jacksonville for a single game starting at 6:00 p.m. on February 6 and a double-header beginning at 12:00 noon on February 7. Then, Baptist University of Florida visits for a twin bill on February 13 (2:00 p.m.) and a single game on February 14 (11:00 a.m.). The NCCAA Division 2 National Invitational Tournament follows from February 19 to 21 in Arlington, Texas.