FORT MYERS, Fla. – With two comebacks, the FGCU softball team brought its winning streak to ten games Friday. The Eagles overturned a 2-0 deficit to defeat Ball State 9-3 and then scored six runs in the final two innings to beat Stony Brook 12-11. The Eagles are now 11-5 in 2016, while Ball State is 8-8 and Stony Brook is 5-7.

After falling behind 2-0 after the first half inning, the Eagles plated four runs in the bottom of the first behind four consecutive singles and a Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) RBI single. A Louie Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) double with the bases loaded emptied the bases in the second, giving FGCU a 7-2 lead after two innings. Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) entered in the third and retired the final 13 batters to secure the win.

FGCU had a steeper hill to climb, trailing 4-0 after the top half of the first but plated two of its own in the bottom half. The Seawolves and Eagles exchanged runs, both scoring one in the second and three in the third. FGCU trailed 8-6 as the game moved into the fifth inning before Stony Brook plated three runs to increase its lead to 11-6. Ashley Dobson (Wheatfield, Ind./Tallahassee Community College/Kankakee Valley HS) kept the Eagles in the game, allowing Ross to play the role of hero. The senior plated a run each in the final two innings, including the final run of a four-run seventh, completing the 12-11 comeback win.

"We dug ourselves some huge holes to try to extricate ourselves from," said head coach David Deiros. "We just have to play better early. That being said, as long we keep playing with the right attitude, as long as we keep on making sure we forget about ourselves and worry about the people around us, good things are going to happen for us. I'm really happy for this group. It's getting to the point where we have no doubt we can still pull it out and it's a pretty cool feeling to have."

GAME ONE
Ball State took advantage of an error in the first inning, plating two runs against Dobson, but the senior was picked up by the Eagle offense in the bottom of the first. Three straight singles brought home Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS), cutting the Cardinal lead to 2-1. Ross then singled to plate Makensie McAvoy (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS), tying the game. After a pitching change, Chandler Middlebrook (Auburndale, Fla./Auburndale HS) gave FGCU a 3-2 lead on a sacrifice fly. Innamorato wrapped up the scoring in the first with a single to right, scoring Ross to push the FGCU advantage to 4-2.

The Eagles tacked on to their lead in the second, on a three-run double by Ross after the Green and Blue again began the frame with three consecutive singles.

Leading 7-2, Dobson conceded a run in the third before giving way to Randolph. The freshman ended the threat in the third, stranding a pair of runners. FGCU got the run back in the bottom half on a two-out RBI double by Huff, scoring Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS).

The Eagles loaded the bases in the sixth as Randolph shut down the Cardinal offense. In the FGCU half of the sixth, Huff reached on an error and moved to second on a McAvoy single. A Ross walk loaded the bases, setting the table for Middlebrook, who reached on an error. The Green and Blue left the bases loaded, taking a 9-3 lead into the seventh.

In the final frame, Randolph sent Ball State down in order to complete the 9-3 victory. The freshman moved to 3-1 on the season by retiring the final 13 hitters of the game. Randolph tossed 4.1 innings, with three strikeouts. Dobson pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one earned run on five hits.

Ross drove in four runs on two hits, while Huff and McAvoy each tallied three hits from the top two spots in the order. Verderese also ended the afternoon with two hits.

GAME TWO
FGCU fell into an early deficit as Stony Brook tallied hits from four of its first five batters. Trailing 3-0, an Irene Rivera double to right made it 4-0. Sami Duffy then stepped to the plate and drove a 2-2 pitch to the wall in left, but McAvoy tracked it down to end the inning.

A McAvoy walk sparked a rally in the bottom half of the first. Following a Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) single and throwing error, Ross drove in McAvoy with a fielder's choice. The Eagles plated another run on a Middlebrook single to make the score 4-2 before a double play ended the inning.

The Seawolves got one run back in the top of the second only for the Eagles to threaten once again in their half. After back-to-back walks to start the inning, McAvoy came through with a two-out RBI single to right, scoring Bree Tourtillott (Dixon, Ill./Tallahassee Community College/Oregon HS). The run is all FGCU would get however, leaving a pair on the bases.

Stony Brook chased Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) from the game in the third as both starting pitchers struggled to get into a rhythm. Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) entered the contest with nobody out and a runner on in the third. Stony Brook scored three runs in the inning, as the deficit grew to 8-3.

Needing baserunners, FGCU put the first two batters on with a Ross walk and a Middlebrook double. After Morgan Sutherland (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier High School) walked to load the bases, the Eagles would take advantage of a passed ball, wild pitch and an error, scoring three runs to bring the deficit back to 8-6.

As the FGCU offense tried to chip away at the Stony Brook lead, the Seawolves added three more in the fifth, including a pair of runs with two outs. Dobson recorded the final out of the inning for FGCU, coming on for Draney.

The game made a drastic turn in favor of the Green and Blue in the sixth, beginning with a one-out single off the bat of McAvoy. Ross brought the senior home with a two-out double and would later score on a Middlebrook single to cut the lead to 11-8.

Dobson again kept Stony Brook from adding any insurance runs, setting the tone for yet another dramatic come-from-behind win. The inning began with a Tourtillott home run to right center, bringing the Eagles to within 11-9. Emily Demurias (Miami, Fla./Killian HS) then singled, followed by a McAvoy walk with two outs. Fournet then hit a line drive to the wall in left center, scoring both McAvoy and Demurias to tie the game. Once again, it was Ross who stepped up, taking a 1-0 pitch to left field scoring Carissa LiCata (Okeechobee, Fla./Okeechobee HS) who was on to run for Fournet.

Dobson (3-1) got the win, keeping the Seawolves scoreless through the final 2.1 innings. The senior allowed two hits during that span to keep FGCU close. Wade allowed five earned runs on eight hits through two innings while Draney tossed 2.2 innings allowing three earned runs on three hits.

Ross drove home three runs including the winning tally on three hits. Middlebrook also tallied three hits in the win, recording a pair of RBIs. McAvoy and Fournet also chipped in with two hits.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles return to the FGCU Softball Complex Saturday against Ball State and No. 21/25 Notre Dame beginning at 3:45 p.m.

DAY ONE RESULTS
Stony Brook 1, Ball State 0
FGCU 9, Ball State 3
FGCU 12, Stony Brook 11
 
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 .679 (523-247-3). 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.