FORT MYERS, Fla. – On a rough night for the FGCU softball team, the Eagles dropped two Friday. The Eagles opened the night, getting no-hit for the first time since April 19, 2006 in a 9-0 loss to Purdue before committing 10 errors against Iowa State, falling 8-3. FGCU is now 15-15 in 2016. Purdue and Iowa State improved to 16-11 and 13-12 respectively.

For just the second time in program history, FGCU was no-hit by Purdue to begin the day. The Boilermakers took advantage of an early Eagle error to score four runs in the first. The visitors then scored a pair of runs in the third to increase the deficit to 6-0. A three-run home run in the sixth capped the scoring in the contest.

Errors plagued the Eagles in the nightcap against Iowa State. A four-error inning allowed for runs to cross in the first and three more miscues helped Iowa State take a 5-0 lead after two innings. The Eagles cut into the lead in the third on a sacrifice fly but the Cyclones plated three runs in the fifth to extend its lead to 8-1. FGCU then scored single runs in the fifth and seventh but could not overcome the defensive miscues.

"We can't let our play tonight define who we are," said head coach David Deiros. "We have to come out and play better in preparation for Atlantic Sun play next week."

PURDUE 9, FGCU 0
A lead off error and a stolen base put Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) in a tough position. Purdue would score four runs in the opening frame capped by a two-run double to right.

Louie Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) became the first FGCU baserunner in the second after getting hit by the first pitch of the at-bat. Ross would be left at first as the inning came to a close.

A two-out rally from the Boilermakers made the task more difficult. Purdue would plate two more runs in the third, taking a 6-0 lead into the fifth.

Morgan Sutherland (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier High School) led off the fifth and became the Eagles' second runner of the day by also getting hit by a pitch. Sutherland moved to second on a ground out but she would not advance further.

In the sixth, Purdue used a three-run home run off the bat of Lexi Huffman to cap the scoring.

Wade pitched 5.2 innings while falling to 3-6 on the year. The junior allowed five earned runs on 11 hits. Courtney Noonan (Palm City, Fla./Stuart Martin County HS) recorded the final out in the sixth.

IOWA STATE 8, FGCU 3
It was another rough start for the Eagles defensively, allowing the Cyclones to plate four unearned runs against Ashley Dobson (Wheatfield, Ind./Tallahassee Community College/Kankakee Valley HS). Trailing 4-0, Makensie McAvoy (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS) doubled to left for the first Eagle hit, but she would be left on the bases.

Dobson was forced to limit the damage to just a single run after three defensive errors put Iowa State in position for another big inning. The senior struck out one before forcing a ground ball back to herself to end the inning.

In the third, LuLu Newmark (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Bowling Green/American Heritage HS) and Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) put runners at the corners for McAvoy and the senior came through, driving the ball to right to score Newmark on a sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 5-1.

Iowa State scored three runs in the fifth but FGCU was able to chip into the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Sutherland reached on a dropped third strike which Newmark followed with a single. After Huff reached on a fielder's choice, the sophomore swiped second, forcing an errant throw resulting in Sutherland crossing the plate.

FGCU loaded the bases the very next inning, beginning with a Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) bunt single. Chandler Middlebrook (Auburndale, Fla./Auburndale HS) with one of her own before Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) duplicated the previous hits. All three would be left on the bases however as the Eagles went into the seventh trailing 8-2.

FGCU tacked on one final run on a Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) double in the seventh two wrap up the scoring.

Dobson was hit with the loss, throwing 4.1 innings, allowing just two earned runs on eight hits. Draney tossed the final 2.2 innings, allowing two hits. McAvoy and Fournet tallied RBIs for FGCU.

UP NEXT
FGCU will get one final look at both Iowa State and Purdue, beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday at the FGCU Softball Complex.

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 .673 (527-257-3). 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.