ORLANDO, Fla. – It was an uphill battle for the FGCU softball team, as the Eagles fell to the No. 25 Knights of UCF 8-0 to open the UCF Spring Fling Thursday. With the loss, FGCU falls to 12-9 while the Knights improved moved to 16-8.

Following a Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) single, FGCU had a hard time getting the offense going against Jamie Ujvari. A seven-run first inning put FGCU behind early only for the Eagles to threaten in the fourth. The Green and Blue could not take advantage of a bases loaded situation and the Knights would plate the final run in the sixth to complete the win.

"When we stuck to our game plan, we gave ourselves opportunities to make plays," said head coach David Deiros. "It was a tight ballgame for five of the six innings. Unfortunately we got a bit impatient and frazzled at times which is the kiss of death against a good opponent. We know we are better than that and we will be ready to compete tomorrow."

Huff led off the game with a bunt single and a stolen base, but that's all the Eagles would get in the first. The Knights responded with a seven-run first inning, forcing Ashley Dobson (Wheatfield, Ind./Tallahassee Community College/Kankakee Valley HS) into the game.

Dobson kept UCF off the board through the fifth, allowing the Eagles to threaten in the fourth, loading the bases on three consecutive walks. FGCU was unable to chip into the lead however, as the game moved into fifth.

In the fifth, Huff again singled and stole second before moving to third on a wild pitch. Louie Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) had reached on a walk in the inning but both runners were left on the bases.

UCF plated its final run in the sixth to put the run rule in effect.

Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) was hit with the loss, pitching one inning allowing seven runs on five hits. Dobson pitched 4.1 innings, striking out seven, allowing the final run while scattering five hits. Huff recorded the only two hits for the Eagles.

UP NEXT
The Eagles get a second chance at UCF tomorrow. The Eagles begin the day with a 12 p.m. contest against Indiana State before facing the Knights at 4:30 p.m.

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 .676 (524-251-3). 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.