GULF SHORES, Ala. – The FGCU Softball team (2-3) started quickly against Southern Mississippi (2-3) today during the final day of the Sand Dollar Classic. The Green and Blue scored six runs in the first inning and held on for a 6-5 victory to close out the tournament.
"It was nice for us to get out of here on a good note," said head coach
David Deiros. "We did some things better but we still have a ways to go before we are playing Eagles softball. We have a day off tomorrow before we start preparing for a tough tournament at USF next weekend."
Shelby Morgan (High Springs, Fla./Sante Fe HS) took the circle for the Eagles and battled through some tough situations, but was able to get the complete game victory to improve her record to 1-0. Morgan gave up five runs, four earned runs, eight hits, walked three and struck out five during her complete game.
Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer High School) led the game off with a lead-off bunt single to the pitcher, and then promptly stole second to put herself in scoring position.
Makensie McAvoy (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS) then singled to left center to advance Huff to third base.
Kelsey Carpenter (Oviedo, Fla./Hagerty HS) then reached base on a walk to load the bases.
Alexis Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) came up to the plate and was walked to score Huff and keep the bases loaded with no outs.
Michaela Hynes (Windermere, Fla./West Orange High School) singled to second base with one out scoring McAvoy and Carpenter who hustled in from second after an error by the second baseman on her throw to first to try to get Hynes.
Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) laid down a bunt which allowed Ross to score and Hynes to reach second.
Christine Marino (Miami, Fla./Hialeah Miami Lakes HS/Bryan College) followed with a single down the left field line that allowed Hynes to score. After advancing to third on a passed ball, Marino scored the sixth run in the first inning for the Green and Blue on a single through the left side from
Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian High School). The Golden Eagles would score one run in the first inning when McKeever was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. Morgan was able to limit the damage though and got out of the first with a 6-1 lead. Southern Miss. would pick up a run in the third and the sixth off of a pair of RBI singles.
Southern Miss. would make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, as they loaded the bases with no outs. Robles singled through the right side to make the score 6-4 with no outs. The Golden Eagles would score again on an RBI groundout to second base to make the score 6-5 with two outs. However, Morgan was able to get out of the jam and forced a groundout to end the game and the tournament with an Eagles victory.
The Green and Blue will return to action next weekend when they head to Tampa to participate in the USF President's Day Weekend Tournament from Friday, Feb. 13 until Sunday, Feb. 15. The Eagles will play Tennessee, Detroit, St. John's, Fordham and USF during their time at the tournament.
THE SAND DOLLAR CLASSICThe 2015 NCAA Sand Dollar Classic features 12 NCAA Division I softball programs at the Gulf Shores SportPlex Feb. 5 through 8. Some of the top college teams and players in the country will be competing against each other throughout the four-day event. The tournament is hosted by The Fieldhouse, an indoor baseball and softball training facility located in Daphne, Ala., in conjunction with the City of Gulf Shores and the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Sports Commission.
THE SCHEDULE Friday, Feb. 6
McNeese State: 6 FGCU: 4 8 INN.
FGCU: 6 Houston Baptist: 4
Saturday, Feb. 7
#3 Alabama: 13 FGCU: 1
Houston: 11 FGCU: 1
Sunday, Feb. 8
FGCU: 6 Southern Miss: 5
SCORES AROUND THE SAND DOLLAR CLASSICLamar: 9 Jackson State: 2
FIU: 8 Houston: 1
Eastern Kentucky: 1 Jackson State: 0
FIU: 4 Lamar: 3
Southern Miss: 7 Jackson State: 4
McNeese State: 3, FIU: 2
Alabama: 8 Eastern Kentucky: 0
Houston: 4 Southern Miss: 1
South Alabama: 8 Liberty: 0
Alabama: 6 Houston: 2
Eastern Kentucky: 4 Houston Baptist: 2
FIU: 4 Eastern Kentucky: 1
Jackson State: 4 Houston: 3
McNeese State: 2 Southern Miss: 0
Lamar: 10 Liberty: 6
Southern Miss: 5 Lamar: 2
Liberty: 11 Houston Baptist: 3
Eastern Kentucky: 1 South Alabama: 0
South Alabama: 5 McNeese State: 1
Alabama: 11 FIU: 2
Jackson State: 7 Houston Baptist: 4
Houston: 6 Liberty: 5
FIU: 7 Houston Baptist: 0
Lamar: 7 Eastern Kentucky: 4
For up-to-the minute information on the FGCU softball program, follow on Twitter @FGCU_Softball and Instagram at fgcusoftball and stay tuned at FGCUAthletics.com.The founding father of FGCU softball, David Deiros enters his 13th season as head coach. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to 11 seasons with a winning record, eight campaigns with 35+ wins and a win percentage of .699 (490-211-3). The 2014 Eagles finished with a 33-26-1 and wins over SEC, Big 10, Big East, and ACC opponents. FGCU finished their season with an RPI ranking in the top-100 for the 3rd consecutive season and the 5th time in their seven years at Division I. Deiros is a former head coach at the 1998 Florida State Runner-up Lely High School in Naples and is the founding head coach of the 1999 District Champion/2001 Regional Runner-up Gulf Coast High School in Naples.
