Florida Gulf Coast outfielder sets historic mark in college baseball that stood nearly a decade
FGCU outfielder Brian Ellis reached base safely for the 102nd consecutive game
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Getting on base during a Division I college baseball game is no easy task.
And Florida Gulf Coast outfielder Brian Ellis has now done it in 102 consecutive games.
A bucket of NCAA tournament baseballs during a game between the West Virginia Mountaineers and Maryland Terrapins June 4, 2017, at David F. Couch Ballpark in Winston-Salem, N.C. (Andy Mead/YCJ/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
In the bottom of the first inning Tuesday against Florida Atlantic, Ellis worked a five-pitch walk, setting an unofficial NCAA record by safely reaching base for the 102nd consecutive game.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}COLLEGE BASEBALL COACH TAKES SODA BOTTLE WITH HIM AS HE GETS EJECTED FROM GAME
While the NCAA does not track consecutive games safely reaching base — it tracks hit, walk and hit by pitch streaks — Ellis surpassed Mark Payton of the University of Texas, who set the previous record in 2013-14, according to FGCU athletics.
Seats during Game 3 of the College World Series championship series between the Michigan Wolverines and Vanderbilt Commodores June 26, 2019, at TD Ameritrade Park Omaha in Omaha, Neb. (Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
After reaching base in the first inning, Ellis lifted the base above his head, and the bag was taken out of play.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"It's a great feeling to have any record here, and to have that one as a national record is a huge accomplishment that I am happy about," Ellis said, per FGCU athletics. "I'm glad I got it out of the way early, and any time I get on base I am happy because it helps our team."
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Ellis is a redshirt senior who is hitting .299 on the season with an on-base percentage of .477.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Third base at Lindsey Nelson Stadium displaying the 2022 Division I Baseball Championship logo before Game 3 of the NCAA Super Regionals between the Tennessee Volunteers and Notre Dame Fighting Irish June 12, 2022, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. (Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
"He is just a special player, so unselfish," FGCU head baseball coach Dave Tollett said. "This record states just how unselfish he is, and it is so special. He is a great kid, one of the best kids I've ever coached, and the only captain I have ever had in 37 years. It is well deserved."
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While it was a record-setting day for Ellis, the Eagles ended the day with their second straight loss to FAU, falling to the Owls 5-4.