FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU softball team kicked off a stretch of seven games in four days, splitting a doubleheader with Green Bay Wednesday. FGCU lost the opener 7-2, but bounced back to claim the second game 10-2 in five innings. FGCU is now 15-12 in 2016 while Green Bay is 9-19.
FGCU grounded into three double plays and allowed two leadoff home runs to open the afternoon. A three-run third and a pair of Phoenix runs in the fourth and fifth proved to be too much to overcome as the Eagles dropped a 7-1 decision to begin the day.
FGCU did most of its damage in the second game with two outs. The Eagles plated two runs in the second and four runs in the fourth, all with two outs to take a 6-0 lead. After Green Bay scored twice in the fifth, the Eagles finished off the run-rule win with four runs in the bottom half of the inning.
"We didn't play a very good softball game at all in the first game," said head coach
David Deiros. "You can't take away what Green Bay did in the first game. They had six extra base hits and turned three double plays. They simply did a better job in all facets. I'm really pleased with how we rebounded in the second game. We did everything better, which is what we asked for."
GAME ONEThe Eagles and Phoenix traded hits in the first but neither could push across the first run of the contest. A leadoff home run by Kelli Hutchinson in the third sparked a three-run inning for Green Bay, forcing FGCU to go to the bullpen.
The visitors scored two more runs in the fourth, increasing the deficit to 5-0.
Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) then reached on a fielder's choice in the fourth and moved to second on a
Bree Tourtillott (Dixon, Ill./Tallahassee Community College/Oregon HS) walk.
Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) wasted no time, taking the first pitch to center scoring McGuire.
The Phoenix got the run back in the top of the fifth on a home run off the bat of Allie Hislope. Green Bay then used two doubles to plate another run, as the score line moved to 7-1.
FGCU put runners at the corners in the fifth but a double play ended the inning.
The Eagles were unable to cut into the lead, falling 7-1 in the opener.
Ashley Dobson (Wheatfield, Ind./Tallahassee Community College/Kankakee Valley HS) got the start for the Eagles. The senior was hit with the loss, allowing three runs on four hits over 2.1 innings.
Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) entered, tossing 4.1 innings, conceding four runs on eight hits.
Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) recorded the final out in the seventh.
Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) tallied three hits and
Louie Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) recorded two hits for the Green and Blue. Innamorato picked up the only RBI for the Eagles on two hits.
GAME TWOJeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) led off the second inning with a double to left center and later moved to third base. With two outs in the inning, Huff singled to right, scoring Verderese. Huff then stole second, and scored on a Ross single to give FGCU a 2-0 advantage.
Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) limited the Phoenix to just four hits through the first four innings, setting up another opportunity for the Eagles in the fourth.
Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) extended the inning with a two-out double and scored on a McGuire double down the right field line. Innamorato continued the trend, doubling to left to score McGuire. FGCU then took advantage of two wild pitches, bringing the score to 6-0 after five innings.
Wade found herself in a bit of trouble in the fifth when Green Bay put two runners on with two outs. Following a double, Draney came in and recorded the final out with FGCU leading 6-2.
The Eagles would get both runs back and more, plating two runs on a Fournet single to right. Randolph then came on to hit, grounding out but plating Ross. Leading 9-2, Innamorato brought home
Carissa LiCata (Okeechobee, Fla./Okeechobee HS) to give the Eagles a 10-2 win.
Wade earned her third win of the season, throwing 4.2 innings while allowing two runs on six hits. McAvoy, Ross and Fournet each gathered two hits while Innamorato recorded three.
UP NEXTThe Eagles continue their home stand with a contest with Purdue tomorrow at 6 p.m.
FOLLOW ALONGFor 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 (527-254-3). 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 CAUSEFGCU 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.
