FORT MYERS, Fla. – On an emotional Sunday, the FGCU softball team fell 3-1 to FIU to close out the three-game series. The Eagles honored three seniors prior to the game and with the loss now stand at 24-25 on the year while the Panthers improved to 25-24.

"Congratulations to our three seniors for a fantastic career," said head coach David Deiros. "They all did a fantastic job today, we just didn't get enough to go ahead and put us over the top."

The pitchers were again in control through the early stages of the contest but the Panthers scored first in the fourth inning. The visitors would score twice more in the fifth to lead 3-0 before FGCU produced its best scoring opportunity of the day. In the sixth, FGCU had two-on with nobody out in the inning and the heart of the order due up. FGCU scored once in the sixth but could not complete the comeback, falling 3-1 on Senior Day.

Following an emotional senior ceremony honoring Ashley Dobson (Wheatfield, Ind./Tallahassee Community College/Kankakee Valley HS), Makensie McAvoy (Plant City, Fla./Plant City HS), and Louie Ross (Cape Coral, Fla./Ida S. Baker HS), Dobson took to the circle and quickly retired the Panthers in order. McAvoy earned a walk in the bottom of the first but was stranded after a pair of pop outs.

Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) picked up the first hit of the game for either team on a single down the line in left in the second. The Eagle was left on the bases however, keeping the game scoreless.

FIU broke through in the fourth, scoring on a one-out double and a single to right field. Ross then led off FGCU's fourth with a single to left but the Eagles could not take advantage and took a 1-0 deficit into the fifth.

The Panthers took advantage of an error in the fifth, scoring twice to take a 3-0 lead into the bottom half of the sixth inning. McAvoy led off the inning with a single, followed by a Ross by single as well. On the play, Ross moved to second as McAvoy advanced to third. Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) then brought in McAvoy with a ground ball. Trailing 3-1, a pair of pop outs ended the inning to send the game into the seventh.

Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS), who replaced Dobson in the sixth, kept FIU off the board in the seventh to keep the score 3-1. The Eagles however would not threaten in the final inning, falling 3-1.

Dobson was hit with the loss, but pitched 5.1 innings allowing three runs on five hits. The senior struck out five batters and walked four in her outing. Draney tossed the final 1.2 innings, allowing just one intentional walk.

UP NEXT
Only two conference series remain for FGCU, the first beginning May 2 at the FGCU Softball Complex against UNF. The Eagles are currently in second place behind USC Upstate with six games remaining.

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 (536-266-3). 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.