FORT MYERS, Fla.- Florida SouthWestern sophomore Brandon Eldridge is heading back home to the Carolinas after signing with Gardner-Webb University for the 2026 season.

Eldridge pitched in 17 games for the Bucs as a sophomore last season, going 3-1 with a save in 37 innings pitched.  He struck out 44 opposing batters and finished the year with a 5.84 ERA. He earned his first collegiate victory in his first outing with the Bucs, going three scoreless innings in an FSW win over Palm Beach State. He put together a hot stretch for the Bucs right after Spring Break, posting five straight scoreless appearances spanning 9 1/3 innings, allowing just four hits during that span while striking out nine.

Eldridge heads to Boiling Springs to join the Runnin' Bulldogs who are coming off of a 17-36 campaign in 2025.

Eldridge is one of nine Bucs to sign at the Division one level and 13 FSW sophomores overall who have signed at the next level, joining Abel Albarran (Middle Tennessee St.), Luke Orfi (Texas Tech), Jake Mueller & Anthony Ruocco (UNC-Greensboro), Brock Knoerr (Western Kentucky), Nathan Fink (Sam Houston State), Beau Brailey (Campbell), Nik Pereira & Josiah Velazquez (Tampa), Devin Parks (Radford), Carlos Sanchez (LSU-Shreveport), and Brett Dennis (Rollins).