FORT MYERS, Fla. – Concluding non-conference action, the FGCU softball team plays host to in-state rivals FIU this weekend. The series against the Panthers is the final weekend series at home for FGCU this season. The Eagles and Panthers begin the weekend with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Departing seniors Ashley Dobson, Makensie McAvoy, and Louie Ross will be honored prior to Sunday's finale as part of the Senior Day festivities; first pitch is scheduled for 12:02 p.m.

Every game of the weekend series will be broadcast on ESPN3. Fans are encouraged to wear green on Sunday.

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 GREEN AND BLUE
While this is not the final home series, it is the final weekend series at the FGCU Softball Complex in 2016. Dobson (Wheatfield, Ind./Tallahassee Community College/Kankakee Valley HS), McAvoy (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS), and Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS) will all be honored prior to Sunday's game against the Panthers, commemorating their years of dedication to the program.

Ross is ending her career on a high-note, hitting .386 with two home runs and 36 RBIs including a 4-for-4 performance against FAU Wednesday. The Eagles dropped the first game 4-2 before falling in the finale 9-1 in six innings. FGCU tallied eight hits in game one, the most conceded by starter Kylee Hanson all season.

In addition to Ross, Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) is hitting .373 with 35 runs scored at the top of the order along with 22 stolen bases. McAvoy and Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) complete the top of the order, both hitting over .330 entering the weekend. Fournet has slowed slightly, hitting .388 after 46 games with 39 RBIs. McAvoy meanwhile has tallied six triples on the year and has scored 30 times.

In the circle, Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) leads the Eagles with a 12-4 record and a 1.52 ERA. In 120 innings, the freshman has struck out 78 batters while only walking 19. Dobson was hit with the loss in the first game Wednesday but limited the Owls to two earned runs over six innings. In 2016, Dobson is 3-7 with a 3.69 ERA.

SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
FIU comes to Fort Myers with a matching 23-23 record in 2016 and losers of six of its last eight games. The Panthers boast a .321 average as a team led by Stephanie Texeira, who is hitting .424 this season. Texeira has started in 31 games but leads the team with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs. In addition, Texeira has hit eight doubles this season, second on the team. A.J. Belans enters the weekend batting .391 with seven doubles and eight home runs, driving in 33 runs.

In the circle, the Panthers have a trio of pitchers with five or more wins. Abby Summers is 9-7 on the year with a 3.50 ERA. Megan Kugelmann has tallied six wins in her freshman season aided by a 1.67 ERA and three shutouts. Corrine Jenkins has seen the most action, tossing 97 innings while producing five wins and a 4.11 ERA.

The Eagles are 6-11 all-time against the Panthers, splitting doubleheaders each of the past two seasons. Out of the 17 previous meetings, only six have been in Fort Myers, with each team claiming three wins.

UP NEXT
The Eagles wrap up their home schedule with a three-game series beginning Monday, May 2 against UNF. FGCU has two conference opponents remaining on the schedule including UNF as FGCU looks for its first A-Sun title since 2012.

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.