FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team's winning streak reached seven games in dramatic fashion Saturday on the third day of the Battle at the Beach. The Eagles (8-5) defeated Oakland (3-9) 7-0 before coming from behind late, scoring six runs in the final three innings to defeat Sacred Heart (1-3) 7-6 in eight innings.

"I wanted to see how my team would respond to adversity and they passed with flying colors," said head coach David Deiros. "I'm really pleased with the way we played all-around today. The key to it is it's been all-around. We've minimized the number of defensive mistakes and we are having really competitive at bats. On top of that, our pitching has kept us in the ballgame."

Led by a stellar performance in the circle by Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS), the Eagles blanked the Golden Grizzlies and used a six-run second inning to put the first game out of reach. Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) continued to be a hard out, collecting four more RBIs in the game, including a three-run home run.

In the nightcap, FGCU trailed 5-1 after a grand slam from Sacred Heart's Linsey DeDomenico in the third inning and continued to trail until beginning a comeback in the sixth. The Green and Blue plated two runs in the sixth on a Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) single to bring the score to 5-3 and later tied the game with fantastic base running from Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) in the seventh. After the Pioneers scored one run in their half of the eighth, the Eagles loaded the bases, allowing Makensie McAvoy (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS) to drive in the winning run.

GAME ONE
Randolph allowed a lead-off single to begin the contest, but settled in, keeping the Golden Grizzlies off the board in the first. FGCU grabbed the lead in the first on a Fournet single scoring Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS).

Randolph wasn't done, striking out the side in the second allowing FGCU to break the game open. The inning began with singles from Bree Tourtillott (Dixon, Ill./Tallahassee Community College/Oregon HS), Lopez and Huff to load the bases. McAvoy scored two runs on a single to right center and Louie Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) then reached on a fielder's choice, plating Huff and setting the table for Fournet. The freshman sent a 2-1 pitch over the wall in center, capping a six-run inning for the Eagles.

Leading 7-0, the Eagles closed out the win to move its winning streak to six games. Randolph (2-1) picked up her second win in as many attempts, tossing six strong innings while allowing just three hits and striking out six. Courtney Noonan (Palm City, Fla./Stuart Martin County HS) worked the final inning in her first Eagle appearance.

Huff, McAvoy and Fournet each collected two hits in the win with McAvoy and Fournet driving in two and four runs respectively.

GAME TWO
The Eagles and Pioneers exchanged runs in the first inning as the Eagles looked to Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) to keep the winning streak alive. Draney found herself in trouble in the third when the Pioneers loaded the bases. DeDomenico cleared the bases with one swing, hitting a grand slam to left and putting Sacred Heart in front 5-1.

In the fourth inning, FGCU loaded the bases, but could not chip into the lead at the time. Two innings later, FGCU got a double from Fournet and a LuLu Newmark (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Bowling Green/American Heritage HS) walk to put themselves in position again to cut into the deficit. Innamorato would do just that on a single plating both runners, bringing the score to 5-3.

Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) who entered in the third for Draney, kept the Pioneers off the board in the seventh to give the Green and Blue a chance to tie. The rally began with a Fournet double to center, scoring Ross from first. Lopez came on to run for the freshman and scored on an infield single by Chandler Middlebrook (Auburndale, Fla./Auburndale HS) with two outs in the inning.

The Pioneers scored one with the international tiebreaker in the eighth putting FGCU behind 6-5 but the Eagles would quickly put pressure back on the Pioneers.
With Hynes running at second to start the inning, Emily Demurias (Miami, Fla./Killian HS) reached after being hit by a pitch. Following a passed ball, an error allowed Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) to reach, loading the bases for Huff. The sophomore singled to left to tie the game, keeping the bases loaded for McAvoy. On the first pitch, the senior extended FGCU's winning streak to seven games with a single to left scoring Demurias.

Wade (2-2) got the win, pitching 5.2 while limiting the Pioneers to just the unearned run in the eighth. Draney tossed 2.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits. Huff, McAvoy and Fournet tallied three hits in the ballgame to lead the Eagles from the plate.

UP NEXT
The Eagles and Pioneers meet one final time Sunday at 10 a.m. to conclude the Battle at the Beach.

DAY THREE RESULTS
Sacred Heart 4, Oakland 1
FGCU 7, Oakland 0
FGCU 7, Sacred Heart 6

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 .675 (520-247-3). 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.