NASHVILLE, Tenn. – With the hopes of sweeping its second-straight conference doubleheader, the FGCU softball team split its doubleheader against Lipscomb Saturday. FGCU started the day with a 9-2 win but fell 9-0 in five innings in the finale in the Music City. FGCU is now 19-18 on the year, including a 3-2 record in Atlantic Sun play. Meanwhile Lipscomb is 19-18 overall and 4-4 in the A-Sun.

Behind another complete game gem from Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS), the Eagles took a 5-0 lead after three innings on a bases clearing throwing error in the second and a Louie Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) double to center in the third. The Bisons cut into the lead with single runs in the fourth and sixth, but Randolph kept the damage at a minimum to keep the Eagles comfortably in front. FGCU broke the game open with a four-run seventh, including a Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) double to complete the 9-2 win.

FGCU fell victim to a six-run third inning, putting the game out of reach. Lipscomb posted three runs in the first off of Ashley Dobson (Wheatfield, Ind./Tallahassee Community College/Kankakee Valley HS) before putting the game out of reach with a six-run third, sending FGCU to a 9-0 loss in five innings.

"We made too many mistakes, truthfully, when they got the bases loaded we let them have everything," said head coach David Deiros. "We didn't step up and make the plays and we had chances to get out of the inning with little damage but it ballooned. We have to forget about it and move forward."

GAME ONE: FGCU 9, Lipscomb 2
After a hitless first inning, the Eagles threatened in the second inning beginning with a Chandler Middlebrook (Auburndale, Fla./Auburndale HS) walk with one out. Following a Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) single, a Bree Tourtillott (Dixon, Ill./Tallahassee Community College/Oregon HS) walk loaded the bases with two outs in the inning. The Green and Blue then took advantage of a defensive miscue when Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) reached on a throwing error, clearing the bases to put FGCU in front 3-0.

Randolph kept the Bisons off the board in the second, working around a lead off error to put her offense in position to increase the lead. Makensie McAvoy (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS) started off the third with a single up the middle before the senior moved to second on a passed ball. Fournet then walked after falling behind 0-2, setting the table for Ross. The senior took the first pitch to center, clearing the bases with a double to push the lead to 5-0.

Randolph was put under pressure for the first time in the fourth as Lipscomb put together a two-out rally, ultimately plating a run to bring the score to 5-1. Two more Bisons hits scored another run in the sixth as the lead shrunk to 5-2, but FGCU would break the game open in the seventh to all but secure the win.

Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) led off the frame with a single to right and moved to second on a McAvoy single. Fournet then doubled down the line in left, plating both runners to give FGCU a 7-2 lead. After a pitching change for Lipscomb, the Eagles loaded the bases on two walks with two outs in the inning before Tourtillott scored the eighth run of the game on a hit by pitch. With the bases still loaded, Morgan Sutherland (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier High School) walked, pushing the lead to 9-2. The bases would be left loaded but the seven-run lead would be plenty for Randolph.

After consecutive singles put the freshman in a jam to start the seventh, a strike out and a fielder's choice put her back in control. Randolph forced one final fly out to left, ending the ballgame.

Randolph ended the day allowing two runs on seven hits in a complete-game victory. The freshman struck out eight batters, tying a career-high. McAvoy and Ross each collected two hits while both Ross and Fournet drove in two runs.

GAME TWO: Lipscomb 9, FGCU 0 (Five Innings)
Lipscomb started the second game of the doubleheader with four-straight base hits, scoring three runs off of Dobson and the FGCU defense.

LuLu Newmark (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Bowling Green/American Heritage HS) drew a one-out walk in the second, but that's all the Eagles would muster in the inning. Dobson kept the deficit at a minimum, keeping the Bisons off the board in the second but the home side would do most of its damage in the third.

After the Eagles went down in order in the top half of the frame, back-to-back singles brought Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) into the game. After a walk loaded the bases, a double scored two runs and an infield single plated another. The Bisons scored three more in the inning, bringing the score to 9-0.

A scoreless fourth for both teams put FGCU in danger of a run-rule loss. Verderese singled up the middle with one out in the inning for FGCU's first hit but it would be all for the Eagles in the fifth, falling 9-0.

Dobson and Wade each tossed two innings. Dobson allowed five runs on six hits with a strikeout while Wade allowed four runs, two earned, on three hits with a strikeout.

UP NEXT
The Eagles look to take the series from the Bisons Sunday at 2 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on ESPN3.

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 (531-260-3). 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.