FORT MYERS, Fla. – Kelsey Huff's game-winning RBI triple in the bottom of the sixth inning during game two gave the FGCU softball team (18-15, 1-2 Atlantic Sun) a doubleheader sweep over Towson University (9-7) on Wednesday night. The Eagles won game one by a 4-2 count and game two by a 5-4 score.

In game one, junior Alexis Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) went 2-for-3 and accounted for FGCU's fourth run with her first homerun of the year to straight away center while senior Christine Marino (Hialeah Miami Lakes HS/Bryan College) added an RBI.

In game two, Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) did the heavy lifting in the batter's box against the Tigers, going 4-for-4 with two RBI. Freshman Kasandra Castle (Lake Worth, Fla./Palm Beach Central HS) added three RBI while going 1-for-3 at the plate.  

"Our kids played really well tonight," said head coach David Deiros. "We had to win in two different ways, and it is nice to see that our players are able to adapt to different situations and be successful. This was a nice setup for this weekend going into our next conference series."

GAME ONE
Sophomore Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) started in the circle and pitched 4.2 innings, allowing two earned runs, eight hits, one walk and struck out two to improve her record to 3-4 on the season. Senior Shelby Morgan (High Springs, Fla./Sante Fe HS) picked up her second save on the season, pitching 2.1 relief innings, allowing two hits and stricking out three.  

The Tigers got on the board early by scoring two runs in the first, but that would be all as they were held scoreless the rest of the way with 10 hits in the game.

The Eagles took the lead in the third inning with three runs off of one hit and two errors. Sophomore Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) led off the inning by reaching second base on a throwing error by the third baseman. After Verderese reached third on a passed ball, Marino laid down a sacrifice bunt that scored Verderese from third with Marino safe at first after the throw went to the plate.  Freshman Carissa LiCata (Okeechobee, Fla./Okeechobee HS) pinch ran for Marino, and promptly stole second base. LiCata then scored on an error by the first baseman that allowed Huff to reach base as well.  After advancing to third on a Makensie McAvoy (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS) single, Huff scored on the second passed ball of the inning.

GAME TWO
Freshman Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) took the circle in the second game of the night. The freshman pitched four innings, allowing four hits, giving up three earned runs, walking five and striking out three. Junior Ashley Dobson (Wheatfield, Ind./Kankakee Valley HS) entered the game in relief, and picked up the win to improve her record to 8-3. Dobson allowed four hits, one earned run, walked one and struck out three.

The Tigers took a 4-3 lead in in the top of the fifth, but could not hang on as the Eagles answered in the bottom of the sixth. Towson's four runs came off of eight hits on the night.

The Green and Blue struck first in the game, scoring a run in the second inning. Freshman Chandler Middlebrook (Auburndale, Fla./Auburndale HS) reached on an error by the pitcher before freshman Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) reached on a fielder's choice with Middlebrook out at second. McGuire then reached third on a throwing error by the shortstop after freshman Michaela Hynes (Windermere, Fla./West Orange HS) reached on a single to the left side. Castle then picked up her first RBI on the night when she reached on a fielder's choice, scoring McGuire on the play.

The Eagles added two more in the fourth inning off of four hits and an error. Ross led off the inning with a single up the gut. The junior then advanced to second on an error by the second baseman with McGuire safe at first on the play. Hynes then loaded the bases with a single to the left side tha set the stage for Castle. The freshman catcher then singled to center field with Ross scoring on the play. After an out, Huff laid down an RBI bunt single to give the Eagles a 3-2 advantage in the game.

With Towson leading 4-3 in the sixth, McGuire led the inning off with a double to right center, and then advanced to third on a groundout. McGuire then scored on Castle's third RBI of the night when she grounded out to the first baseman. After Verderese reached on a pinch-hit single, Huff drove the ball into the left-center alleyway and slide into third for the game winning hit.

The Eagles will host Northern Kentucky this Saturday, Mar. 21, and Sunday, Mar. 22, for a trio of contests. The doubleheader on Saturday is slated for 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. before the series finale on Sunday at Noon.

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 is in 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  .691 (507-226-3). 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.