PUERTO VALLARTA, Mex. – On the team's final day in Mexico, the FGCU softball team once again was in a position to win but could not complete a comeback, falling to Mississippi State 6-3 Saturday. FGCU falls to 5-4 on the year while Mississippi State moves to 6-3.

"Our attitude was very good today but our execution in all facets is still below standard," said head coach David Deiros. "We have got a week to get better before we host five strong teams."

In what has been a recipe for success for the Green and Blue this season, the Eagles took an early lead against the SEC-foe, only for the Bulldogs to tie the game in the bottom of the first. A three-run second for Mississippi State proved to be the difference in the ballgame. The Eagles plated two runs in the fourth, cutting the lead to 4-3 but it was as close as the Eagles would get, falling 6-3.

Unlike Day Two, the Eagles were able to take advantage of early baserunners. Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) got the Eagles going with a leadoff single but was later retired on a fielder's choice. Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) singled to put FGCU in front but the lead was short-lived.

Mississippi State capitalized on a leadoff walk to tie the game in the bottom half of the first and plated three runs in the second after FGCU again put the leadoff runner on.

The Green and Blue chipped into the deficit in the fourth beginning with back-to-back base hits from Bree Tourtillott (Dixon, Ill./Oregon HS/Tallahassee Community College) and Carissa LiCata (Okeechobee, Fla./Okeechobee HS), forcing a pitching change for the Bulldogs. Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) then delivered a single to left, scoring Tourtillott and Huff tacked on a second run with a sac fly to right.

Mississippi State responded, scoring a run in both the fifth and sixth innings for the final 6-3 scoreline.

Swiderski and Verderese each tallied a pair of hits and drove in a run each to lead the Eagles from the plate.

Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) suffered her first loss of the season (3-1), allowing five runs on seven hits over five innings. Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) tossed the final inning, allowing one run on two hits.

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 (547-272-3). 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.