FGCU's Brian Ellis sets NCAA baseball record by reaching base in 102nd consecutive game

Brian Ellis made NCAA history for the Florida Gulf Coast baseball team by just taking a walk.

Ellis' first-inning walk at home against Florida Atlantic Tuesday night marked the 102nd consecutive game in which he had safely reached base, setting an unofficial NCAA record. The NCAA doesn't chart consecutive games reached base safely – only either via a hit, a walk or being hit by a pitch – as an official statistic.

Ellis surpassed Texas’ Mark Payton who set the mark at 101 during the 2013-14 seasons.

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Ellis took his base like it was business as usual, but when he got to first, Swanson Stadium erupted as if it was a game-winning home run. With a big smile. The redshirt senior lifted first base over his head as head coach Dave Tollett walked out to congratulate his team captain.

“It’s a great feeling to have any record here,” Ellis said. “To have that one at the NCAA level is a huge accomplishment that I’m happy about.”

“I think out of all the records anyone could have, I think this one definitely says who he is,” Tollett said. “He is the most selfless player I’ve ever coached. It’s just his job, to get on base. He just does it better than anyone I’ve ever coached and right now, probably better than anyone in the country.”

The streak began on April 30, 2021, when he walked and was hit by a pitch against North Florida. He reached base in the final 11 games of the 2021 season, all 58 games of the 2022 season, and all 33 games this year. Ellis recorded 143 hits in 401 at-bats during his record-setting march, drawing 78 walks and being hit by a pitch 39 times.

Ellis, who bats lead-off, has set the tone for the No. 15 ranked Eagles (26-7) this season. The Oviedo native boasts a .500 slugging percentage with 43 runs, 28 RBI, and five home runs.

Known for his dedication to hard work, Ellis leads the Eagles not just at the plate, but in all aspects.

“There’s a reason that in my 37 years as a coach, he’s the only captain I’ve ever had,” Tollett said. “He leads by example in the classroom, in the community, and on this field. But to be a part of what he’s done is something special. He’s not going to take credit for it, that’s just who he is. But man, it’s an unbelievable record that I think is going to stand for a long, long time.”

Ellis says his individual success is just part of the team’s strengths, and by just doing his job, he puts his squad in the best position to succeed. The record highlights an incredible season at the plate for FGCU, which ranks first in the country for runs scored (327), slugging percentage (.602), and on-base percentage (.451).

“Honestly, I don’t even pay attention to the record that much,” Ellis said. “Leading up to every week, I practice and prepare myself the best way I can. And I believe that gives me the best chance I have at succeeding.

“I feel like all the records we have this year have kind of just been an off-set of all the hard work we’ve put in."

For the Eagles, everything is clicking at the plate. They’re outscoring their opponents 327-186 and out-homering them 75-27. Having a batter like Ellis at lead-off has been instrumental.

Ellis did score after his walk, his only time reaching base, to start a three-run first inning Tuesday night but FAU rallied for a 5-4 win.

“I think my job as a lead-off hitter is to get on base, and by doing that we have a greater chance to win the game,” Ellis said. “Because I know the guys behind me in the lineup are going to score me if I get on.”

This year, the Eagles have rallied around ‘We Know’ as their slogan, a call-back to preseason predictions that had FGCU in the middle of the ASUN pack.

While the Eagles have known how good they are all season long, they’ve put the college baseball world on notice with the best start in program history.

“We aren’t sneaking up on anybody anymore,” Tollett said. “We get everyone’s best bullet.”

“I think we woke some people up and kind of got some people’s attention, and you can see that in the rankings every week now,” Ellis said. “But there’s still a lot of work to be done, and we still show up to the field with that underdog mentality and blue-collar work ethic. We’re still out there trying to prove something.”

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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Brian Ellis sets NCAA record for consecutive games on base at 102