PUERTO VALLARTA, Mex. – From a beach-lined campus to a beach-lined resort, the FGCU softball team heads south of the border for the Triple Crown Sports Puerto Vallarta Challenge. The Eagles, off to their second 4-0 start in program history, will face two NCAA Tournament teams from 2016, one of which currently resides in the Top 25.

The Green and Blue will play a pair of contests opposite #21 Fresno State (Feb. 16, 17), as well as Cal State Fullerton (Feb. 17), Texas Tech (Feb. 16), and Mississippi State (Feb. 18). Live stats for each contest will be available through each opponent's website.

LAST TIME OUT
FGCU went 4-0 to start the 2017 season, marking just the second time in the program's 15 years the Green and Blue have won the first four games to open a season (2014, 5-0-1). The 2017 Eagles defeated LIU-Brooklyn four times, compiling 32 runs while conceding just one over the weekend.

Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) went 7-for-8 from the plate with an RBI. Meanwhile, Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) put together one of the more impressive performances of the weekend, hitting .643 with two doubles, a triple and six RBIs. As a team, FGCU ended the weekend with a .468 average, paced by six Eagles hitting above .500 after at least eight appearance at the plate.

FGCU was just as effective in the circle with Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) and Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) earning two wins each to begin the year. Wade posted a pair of shutouts, striking out a career six batters in her first start of the year. Randolph was just as impressive, allowing just one run over 12 innings. Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) tossed the final inning of the weekend, retiring the side in order.

STARTING HOT
FGCU paces the ASUN and sits third in the country in batting average while Innamorato, with her .875 average at the plate, leads the entire country by nearly 60 points. The Eagles also occupy the top five spots in the conference batting title race after one weekend. Following Innamorato is Huff, Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) (.636), Bree Tourtillott (Dixon, Ill./Oregon HS/Tallahassee Community College) (.571), and Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) (.556).

After tossing 11 scoreless innings, Wade tops the nation with a 0.00 ERA and Randolph sits within the Top 100 with a 0.58 ERA.

SCOUTING FRESNO STATE
Moving up to #21 in the latest NFCA Coaches Poll, the Bulldogs feature a powerful batting order with eight home runs already this season while tallying a 4-1 record to this point. Savannah McHellon and Lindsey Willmon both have two home runs to lead the team. With eight RBIs, McHellon also paces Fresno State in that category as well.

The Bulldogs pitching staff is led by Kamalani Dung who tossed two shutouts and earned three total wins during opening weekend. McHellon earned the other win for Fresno State.

This week will be the first two meetings between FGCU and Fresno State.

SCOUTING THE RED RAIDERS
Texas Tech (3-2) is headlined by Kiana Workman, who collected three RBIs and two home runs to open the 2017 slate. Workman hit .444 to begin the year. Behind Workman, Raina O'Neal tallied a .333 average while adding a team-best three home runs and six RBIs.

In the circle, the Red Raiders have produced a 1.44 ERA as a staff with Kassidy Scott leading the way with a 0.95 ERA. Scott has tossed 14.2 innings with one shutout to her name.

This marks the first meeting between FGCU and Texas Tech.

SCOUTING THE TITANS
Cal State Fullerton (1-3) features Lexi Gonzalez who enters the week with a .455 average as well as Delynn Rippy. Gonzalez has produced four RBIs this season, which leads the team and she has also hit the team's only home run.

With a 1.80 ERA, Kelsey Kessler enters the week as the top pitcher for the Titans. Kessler has tossed 11.2 innings, but brings an 0-1 record to Mexico. Trisha Parks enters with a 3.71 ERA over 5.2 innings.

FGCU and Cal State Fullerton have never met.

SCOUTING MISSISSIPPI STATE
The Bulldogs (3-2) look to Alexis Silkwood to carry the lineup. Silkwood is batting .545 with three doubles early on in the season. No one in the Bulldog order has more than two RBIs after one weekend of play.

In the circle, Silkwood again is the feature player. With a 2-0 record and a 0.45 ERA, Silkwood headlines a staff that has recorded a team ERA of 0.70. Regan Green also has an ERA under 1.00 early in the year.

FGCU has met Mississippi State once. In 2009, the Eagles came away with an 8-3 win in Hawaii.

UP NEXT
The Eagles return home to face Wisconsin, Rutgers, Hofstra, Boston College and FIU during the FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational. The tournament begins Feb. 24 and wraps up Feb. 26.

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 recently enters his 15th 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 .669 (546-268-3). 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.