FORT MYERS, Fla. – At the halfway point of Atlantic Sun play, the FGCU softball team sits in a three-way tie for first place with two more teams trailing by mere percentage points in the standings. This weekend the Eagles face one of those teams, the Kennesaw State Owls, as FGCU attempts to stay atop the conference standings. The three-game series is set to begin with a doubleheader Saturday at 2 p.m. at the FGCU Softball Complex with the finale Sunday at 1 p.m. Sunday's finale is scheduled to be broadcast on ASun.TV.

Ticket prices are $7 for adults and $5 for youth. Season tickets meanwhile are $39 for adults and $29 for youth. For those interested in purchasing single-game or season tickets, contact the FGCU ticket office at 239-590-7145 or visit FGCUTickets.com.

The Eagles (21-20, 5-4 A-Sun) enter the weekend deadlocked with Kennesaw State and UNF at 5-4 in the A-Sun. Right behind that trio sits Stetson and USC Upstate, just .011 points behind.

THE GREEN AND BLUE
FGCU took two from Stetson last weekend in Fort Myers to move to the top of the A-Sun standings. In the opener, Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) drove in six RBIs, the second-highest single game total in FGCU history, to support another fantastic outing from Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS). The Eagles went on to score 13 runs in a 13-2 five inning run-rule win.

After dropping the second game 7-1, FGCU again relied on Randolph to stifle the Hatters and she did not disappoint leading the Eagles to a 5-1 win. Randolph finished the weekend 2-0 with a 0.58 ERA, allowing one earned run over 12 innings. Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) hit .571 against the Hatters with an RBI while Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) drove in four runs over the three-game series.

Fournet and Randolph continue to be major components to FGCU's success this season. Fournet's 39 RBIs sits second all-time at FGCU for a freshman in a single season. In addition, her six home runs is good for fourth among freshmen in FGCU history. Randolph's 1.69 ERA this season is not only the third-lowest ERA by a freshman at FGCU, but it's also the ninth-best single season performance.

SCOUTING THE OWLS
At 22-17 overall and 5-4 in the A-Sun, Kennesaw State is looking to bounce back from a series loss against UNF two weeks ago. The Owls like to utilize their speed, swiping 104 bases this season led by Kara Chambers and Taylor Denton. Chambers is second on the team with 22 stolen bases but leads the way with a .337 average from the plate along with four triples. Denton meanwhile leads the team with 24 successful steal attempts in addition to her .293 average. Three Owls have driven in 20 or more runs this season, led by Courtney Sutter's 23 on a team-best seven home runs.

Logan Viers and Morgan Sikes have combined for 19 of Kennesaw's 22 win this season. Viers leads the staff with a 1.67 ERA to help her reach the 10-win mark this season. Part of her success in the circle is due to her command as Viers has 79 strikeouts against 13 walks. Similar to Viers, Sikes has 52 strikeouts with only 14 walks issued to help her to a 9-4 record and a 1.96 ERA.

FGCU has won 14 of the 21 prior meetings with Kennesaw State dating back to 2008. Last season, the Owls took both contests in Kennesaw, Ga. The Eagles have had success against the Owls in Fort Myers, posting seven wins in nine attempts.

UP NEXT
The Eagles prepare for their final nonconference contests of the 2016 regular season. FGCU first takes on FAU Wednesday in Boca Raton in a doubleheader at 5 p.m. before returning home for a three-game series against FIU beginning Saturday at 2 p.m. Sunday's finale against the Panthers also serves as Senior Day for the three graduating FGCU seniors.

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 (533-262-3). 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.