FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team earned its first win of the 2016 on the second day of the 2016 FGCU Kickoff Classic Sponsored by Four Points by Sheraton. After suffering a 6-0 loss to Memphis, the Eagles bounced back with a 4-3 win over Illinois-Chicago. The Eagles moved to 1-3 in the young season. UIC fell to 1-2 while Memphis improved to 1-3.

The Eagles and Tigers remained close through the early stages of the contest after Memphis plated an early run. The deficit grew to 3-0 while the Eagles searched for their first hit. That hit finally came in the sixth on a Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) bunt single. Memphis broke the game open with a three-run seventh as the Eagles fell 6-0.

Ashley Dobson (Wheatfield, Ind./Tallahassee Community College/Kankakee Valley HS) continued her strong start to 2016, keeping the Flames scoreless until the fifth. FGCU responded immediately with two in the bottom half of the fifth, scoring on a passed ball and a Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) single. UIC regained the lead with a pair of runs in the sixth, putting the pressure back on the Green and Blue. But the young Eagles were up to the task, scoring on a Bree Tourtillott (Dixon, Ill./Tallahassee Community College/Oregon HS) base hit and a Makensie McAvoy (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS) sacrifice fly. Leading 4-3, Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) shut down the Flames for first win of the year.

"Right now nothing is coming easy for us," said head coach David Deiros. "We're battling a lot of situations, including ourselves. We're still learning to trust in ourselves and in our process. It was a big win for us to be able to come from behind and finish the win. It just seems like everything is getting a little bit better as far as our resilience and our attitude. We'll hope to build on that tomorrow."

GAME ONE
Memphis took an early lead after Kyler Trosclair led off the inning with a single. The Tiger leadoff batter eventually would come around to score on a Brittany Seale ground out. From that point, Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) kept the Tigers at bay until the fourth, when Brooke Lee homered to right, putting FGCU behind 2-0.

The Tigers tacked on another in the fifth on a Tyler Johnson single, scoring Trosclair.

Huff recorded FGCU's first hit in the sixth inning, but was left at first. Following a three-run Memphis seventh, Louie Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) and Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) each singled, but FGCU could not push either across as the game ended 6-0.

Huff, Ross and McGuire each collected a single while Wade was tagged with the loss. Wade (0-1) pitched six innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) came on in the final frame, allowing one run on two hits.

GAME TWO
Dobson worked herself out of an early two-on, one-out situation in the first with the first of her five strikeouts to keep Illinois-Chicago. After the first, neither team would collect another hit until the fourth, when UIC picked up consecutive singles but Dobson again left both on the bases.

FGCU's first hit of the game came in the bottom half of the fourth, with a Ross single to left. Fournet immediately followed with a single of her own but the Eagles would leave two on the bases as the inning came to a close.

UIC broke through in the top of the fifth with a Laura Swan single that scored Kaleigh Nagle.

The Eagles responded, grabbing the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Tourtillott walked to lead off the inning and when Carissa LiCata (Okeechobee, Fla./Okeechobee HS) came on to run for her, the sophomore swiped second. A Huff single put runners at the corners and later at second and third when Huff stole second herself. After Ross walked to load the bases, a passed ball plated LiCata to tie the ballgame at 1-1. Fournet then singled to plate Huff, giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead.

The lead was short-lived as the visitors plated a pair of runs in the top half of the sixth as the first two Flames reached forcing Deiros to go to Draney in the bullpen. UIC scored two on a Dana Capocci single to right to take a 3-2 lead.

In the bottom half of the inning, Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) started the rally with a walk and moved to third on consecutive wild pitches. Tourtillott drove her in with a single, tying the game at 3-3. After a pitching change, Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) walked and stole second, putting runners at second and third for McAvoy. The senior came through, bringing home Huff with a sacrifice fly to left.

Leading 4-3, Draney closed out the win for the Eagles while earning the win herself. Huff and Fournet collected a pit of hits to lead the way offensively for FGCU. Dobson pitched five innings, allowing three runs on six hits, only one was earned however. Draney went the final two innings, allowing just one hit.

UP NEXT
The Eagles wrap up play at the 2016 FGCU Kickoff Classic tomorrow against Kent State. The final match of the tournament is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.

Day Two Results
Middle Tennessee 11, Memphis 2
Memphis 6, FGCU 0
Kent State 4, Middle Tennessee 3
FGCU 4, UIC 3
Michigan State 4, UIC 3
Kent State 7, Michigan State 2
 
FOLLOW ALONG
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.
 
COACH DEIROS
The founding father of FGCU softball, David Deiros enters his 14th 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 .674 (513-245-3). The 2015 Eagles finished with a 23-30 record and wins over Atlantic 10, Southland, AAC and ACC opponents. 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.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.