FORT MYERS (Interstat) — Florida Atlantic scored four runs in the seventh inning to break open a close game and defeated Florida Gulf Coast 9-3 on Tuesday evening.

The Owls extended their winning streak to two games and improved to 28-24. The Eagles dropped to 33-18.

Starter Kyzer Smith held Florida Gulf Coast hitless through two innings before allowing a single in the third. He was replaced by Dalton Robinson after 2 2/3 innings. The game remained scoreless until Florida Atlantic capitalized on a Florida Gulf Coast error in the third.

With one out, Jake Leroux singled and advanced to third when a pickoff attempt by Eagles pitcher Ryan Rushing sailed into center field. After a walk to Baez, Jace Boylston reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Leroux. Chris Perazza then singled through the right side to plate Boylston, giving the Owls a 2-0 lead. Perazza was picked off to end the inning.

Florida Gulf Coast threatened in the bottom of the third. Santos was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a groundout. Kangas singled to left, but Robinson induced a popup and flyout to strand runners.

Neither team scored in the fourth. In the fifth, Florida Atlantic managed a single but could not advance the runner. The Eagles broke through in the bottom half. Dempsey singled and Embury walked. Gonzalez singled to right, driving in Dempsey to cut the lead to 2-1. Nelson walked to load the bases, but Cayden flied out to end the inning.

Florida Atlantic broke the game open in the seventh. Patten singled to lead off and Gramesty sacrificed him to second. Moronta, pinch hitting for pitcher Tyler Murphy, walked. Leroux singled through the left side, scoring Patten. After a strikeout, Boylston walked to load the bases. Romano then singled through the left side, driving in Moronta and Leroux. A wild pitch allowed Boylston to score, making it 6-1.

The Owls added three more runs in the eighth. Gramesty walked, Witmer walked, and Leroux singled to left center to drive in Gramesty. Ward followed with a two-run single to right center, extending the lead to 9-1.

Florida Gulf Coast answered with a run in the bottom of the eighth. Comer singled, Santos walked, and after a pitching change, Gagnon walked to load the bases. Kangas was hit by a pitch to force in Comer. Dempsey struck out to end the inning with the score 9-2.

In the ninth, the Eagles mounted a final rally. Gonzalez singled, Nelson singled, and Cayden singled to load the bases. Comer hit a sacrifice fly to left, scoring Gonzalez to make it 9-3. Santos grounded out to short to end the game.

Florida Gulf Coast out-hit Florida Atlantic 10-9, but the Owls capitalized on five walks and an error. Key performers included Smith, who allowed one hit and struck out two over 2 2/3 innings. For Florida Gulf Coast, Logan Baisley, Jordan Vera, Logan Eisenbarth and Sebastian Lippman pitched in relief.

The win gave Florida Atlantic a split of the season series. The Owls won 8-1 on April 28 but lost 8-6 on April 14 and 12-4 on March 17.

Florida Atlantic next hosts East Carolina for a three-game series starting Thursday. Florida Gulf Coast travels to Jacksonville.