FORT MYERS, Fla. (Interstat) — Garrett Grant threw three hitless innings with three strikeouts as Florida Atlantic defeated Florida Gulf Coast 8-1 on Tuesday at Swanson Stadium. The Owls improved to 22-22 overall, while the Eagles fell to 26-17.

Florida Atlantic pounded out 12 hits and scored all of its runs in the third, fifth, seventh and eighth innings. Nicholas Romano drove in two runs with a double in the eighth. The Owls also capitalized on a throwing error in the fifth that led to two unearned runs.

Florida Gulf Coast managed six hits but grounded into two double plays. The Eagles’ lone run came in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Rapoza.

Six Florida Atlantic pitchers combined to hold the Eagles to one run, striking out eight. Dalton Robinson added two hitless innings with one strikeout, and Reilly Witmer struck out two in a perfect inning. For Florida Gulf Coast, Ryan Rushing allowed one hit over 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

The Owls had lost two of three to the Eagles earlier this season before Tuesday’s decisive win.