CLEARWATER, Fla. – FGCU softball split a pair of contests against Central Michigan Tuesday afternoon at Eddie C Moore Park in Clearwater. Playing away from the FGCU Softball Complex for the first time this season, the Eagles dropped the opener 3-2 but took advantage of multiple Chippewa miscues, winning the second-end of the doubleheader 2-1. FGCU moved to 12-8 this season while Central Michigan is now 6-10.

The Eagles' search for the clutch hit came back to haunt them in the opener, leaving a total of five runners on the bases. After falling behind 1-0 in the first, FGCU took the lead in the third, pushing two runs across. But a two-out, two-run double in the fourth but Central Michigan back in front. The Eagles had runners on in both the fifth and sixth, however FGCU could not tie the game, falling 3-2.

Central Michigan's defensive miscues aided the Eagles in the second game, with both FGCU runs coming on passed balls. Single runs in the second and third proved to be enough as the Eagles hung on for a 2-1 victory.

"We played two hard-fought games against a very good opponent today," said head coach David Deiros. "It would have been nice to hold on to our lead in the first game but it just wasn't meant to be. Their hitter did a good job of driving in a few runs to take the lead in the first game. We had loads of opportunities to blow the second game open but we just couldn't get the big hit. I think we showed a lot of mental toughness and resilience to hold on to the lead late in the second game."

GAME ONE: FGCU 2, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 3
The Eagles were unable to take advantage of a one-out single by Makensie McAvoy (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS) in the first, allowing the Chippewas to take a 1-0 lead thanks to a two-out single to center.

Ashley Dobson (Wheatfield, Ind./Tallahassee Community College/Kankakee Valley HS) settled in after the first, keeping the Central Michigan bats in check long enough for the FGCU offense to pick up in the third. Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) led off the top of the third with a single to center and moved to third on a Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) bunt and a wild pitch. With runners at the corners, MacAvoy delivered with a base hit and Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) duplicated the senior's result, as both Verderese and Huff came around two score on the consecutive base hits.

Working with the lead, Dobson retired Central Michigan in order in the third but with runners at first and second and two outs in the fourth, Sydney Heath found the gap in right-center, scoring two to put the Chippewas back in front 3-2.

Both teams would leave runners on the bases in the fifth and as the game moved into the sixth, the Eagles had another opportunity to tie the contest. Louie Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) led off the inning with a walk and advanced 60 feet on a Chandler Middlebrook (Auburndale, Fla./Auburndale HS) bunt. The senior was left there though, following a pop out and a strike out to end the frame.

Ross would be FGCU's final runner as the Eagles went down in order in the seventh, falling 3-2.

Dobson pitched 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Her record is now 3-2 with the loss. Huff was the lone Eagle to collect two hits in the game. Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) came on to pitch the final 1.1 innings, keeping the Chippewas scoreless in that time.

GAME TWO: FGCU 2, CENTRAL MICHIGAN 1
In a pitcher's duel, Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) came away the victory while holding the Chippewas to five hits in 6.1 innings of work.

The Eagles got on the board in the second when Ross scored on a passed ball after leading off the inning with a walk. The Green and Blue doubled its lead, scoring on another passed ball in the third which scored McAvoy.
FGCU scattered six hits in the contest, loading the bases in the sixth but could not tack on to its lead. Randolph meanwhile got out of her only jam in the third, limiting Central Michigan to just one single run after loading the bases with her fourth strikeout of the game.

The freshman would allow just three baserunners the rest of the way, giving way to Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) who closed out the win for FGCU.

Huff and Bree Tourtillott (Dixon, Ill./Tallahassee Community College/Oregon HS) each tallied a pair of hits for FGCU. Draney earned her second save, working the final two-thirds of the ballgame. Randolph meanwhile picked up her fourth win of the 2016 season.

UP NEXT
The UCF Spring Fling awaits the Eagles in Orlando. Action begins Thursday as FGCU faces UCF, Utah, Lehigh and Indiana State. All four of FGCU's opponents made the NCAA Tournament last season.

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 (524-250-3). 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.