BOCA RATON, Fla. – Searching for an upset, the FGCU softball team dropped a pair of contests to No. 22 FAU Wednesday night. The Eagles (23-23) pushed the Owls (38-7) to the limit in the first game but could not record the clutch hit in a 4-2 loss. In the finale, FAU used two big innings to defeat FGCU 9-1 in six innings.

FGCU tallied eight hits against the Owls in the first game against a pitcher who allowed an average of only three per game to lead the NCAA. The eight hits were the most FAU's Kylee Hanson had allowed against a single team all season but it was Owls who struck first, scoring three times in the second. A single run for FAU in the third increased the deficit to 4-0 but Louie Ross' (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) second home run of the season cut it to 4-1 in the fourth. Ashley Dobson (Wheatfield, Ind./Tallahassee Community College/Kankakee Valley HS) silenced the Owls from that point, keeping the contest close. FGCU would score another in the sixth but ultimately fell 4-2.

The Eagles took an early lead against the Owls in the second game, taking advantage of an error but FAU took control with four runs in each of the first two innings. Trailing 8-1, FGCU was unable to close the gap before the Owls tallied the winning run in the sixth for the 9-1 final.

"I thought we were the better team in the second half of the first game," said head coach David Deiros. "I thought they took it to us in the first half of the ballgame though. It's been a disturbing trend that we do a nice job against their best but against their number two, we don't do as good of a job. For us to be consistently successful we need to do a better job of sticking with our plan and our approach."

GAME ONE: No. 22 FAU 4, FGCU 2
Facing one of the premier pitchers in the nation, FGCU put Kylee Hanson under pressure immediately with a Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) single. The sophomore then stole second and moved to third on a Ross single. FGCU stranded two in the top of the first but Dobson kept the home side off the scoreboard in the bottom half.

Following a quick inning for FGCU, the Owls posted three runs on two hits, taking a 3-0 lead into the third. FAU then tallied another run in its half of the third inning, increasing the deficit to 4-0.

Leading off the fourth, Ross sent a 1-2 pitch over the wall in left center field for her second homer of the year and just the eighth surrendered by Hanson this season. Dobson responded, allowing only a two-out single to continue to neutralize the Owl offense as the contest moved to the fifth.

Two-out singles from Huff and Makensie McAvoy (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS) again allowed FGCU to threaten in the fifth, but both were left on the bases after a foul out.
Ross started another rally in the sixth with her third hit of the day. She then moved to second on a Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) single. Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) drew a walk in a pinch hit appearance to load the bases before another pinch hitter, LuLu Newmark (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Bowling Green/American Heritage HS), also reached on a walk to score Ross. The Eagles were unable to score any additional runs however and trailed 4-2 heading into the bottom of the sixth.

Dobson surrendered just three hits after the third inning to keep FGCU close but the big hit avoided FGCU offensively. In the seventh, Ross tallied her fourth hit on a bunt single with two outs but FGCU would fall 4-2.

Ross' four hits led FGCU while Huff also had a multi-hit game. Dobson tossed six strong innings, allowing just two earned runs on seven hits.  

GAME TWO: No. 22 FAU 9, FGCU 1 – Six Innings
The Eagles struggled to stay with the Owls in the second game. Huff led off the nightcap with a single and came around to score on an error by the right fielder. FAU however plated four runs in the first inning off of Draney to take an early 4-1 lead.

FGCU put two runners on in the second using a Newmark walk and a Morgan Sutherland (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier High School) hit by pitch but a ground out ended the threat. Following a one-out single and a hit batter, Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) entered to pitch for FGCU. The Owls plated four more runs in the second, increasing the deficit to 8-1.

After scoreless third and fourth innings, FGCU had a chance to cut into the lead in the fifth. Newmark led off the inning with a single to center and moved to second on a single by Emily Demurias (Miami, Fla./Killian HS). With only one out in the inning, Huff made solid contact hitting a line drive right to the shortstop for the second out. The inning would then end on a fielder's choice.

Wade retired the Owls in order in the fifth but FAU loaded the bases in the sixth and pushed the winning run across to complete the 9-1 win.

Huff, Demurias and Newmark each tallied one hit. Draney pitched 1.1 innings, allowing six runs on six hits. Wade pitched the final 3.2 innings, allowing three runs on six hits.

UP NEXT
The Eagles wrap up their non-conference schedule this weekend against the FIU Panthers. On Saturday, FGCU and FIU play a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. and the series concludes Sunday at 12 p.m. Sunday's contest also marks Senior Day for the three graduating seniors on FGCU's rosters. The trio will be honored prior to the start of Sunday's game.

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 is in 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 .670 (535-264-3). 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.