NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The FGCU softball team came into Sunday's early matchup hoping for its second-straight Atlantic Sun series win. FGCU fell 6-1 in the series finale against Lipscomb. FGCU is now 19-19 overall on the year, which includes a 3-3 record in A-Sun play. Meanwhile Lipscomb is 20-18 overall and 5-4 in the Atlantic Sun.
 
"We had several chances to score and minimize the damage but we couldn't get it done," said head coach David Deiros. "After two series, I like a lot of what we've been able to accomplish against the preseason top-two and at their places. We get to go home now and face the top-two in the standings the next two weekends so we have control of our destiny."
 
FGCU fell to a two run deficit, giving the Bisons an early lead. Lipscomb posted two runs in the third off of Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) and stretched the lead to six after a four run fifth. The Eagles were able to add a run in the top of the sixth off of a Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./ Bishop Eustace HS) RBI single.
 
After drawing two early walks by Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) and Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School), the Eagles were unable to convert with runners on and one out in the first. Randolph worked a 1-2-3 first inning, keeping the Bisons offense off the board early. The Bisons capitalized in the third on a two-run home run to give the Bisons the early lead.
 
The Eagles offense picked up later in the game, when back-to-back singles and a walk in the fifth inning gave the Eagles life with bases loaded, but they were unable to convert with two outs. Randolph kept the deficit to two after four innings, but the Bisons would strike again, adding four more runs to extend their lead to 6-0.
 
Innamorato put the Eagles on the board with a single up the middle to cut into the lead, bringing the score to 6-1, but that would be the only run on the afternoon for the FGCU offense.
 
Randolph tossed 4.1 innings allowing five runs on seven hits and six strikeouts. Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) pitched the final 1.2 innings giving up one run on two hits.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles look to bounce back against Stetson on Saturday, April 9th at 2 p.m. The contest will be broadcast on ASun.TV.
 
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 (531-261-3). 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.