FORT MYERS, Fla. – Hoping to protect home field advantage once again the FGCU softball team was in position to win both games on Day Two of the FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational but came away with a split. The Eagles (8-5) defeated Rutgers 6-5 on a walk-off single, marking head coach David Deiros' 550th career win, before falling to Wisconsin 6-0 to end the day.

"Another two tough softball games," Deiros said. "We had chances to win both and we pulled out a win in the first one but we made too many mistakes in both sets of games. Rutgers took advantage of them and almost pulled out the victory, we were fortunate to leave with the win. Wisconsin is too good and they took advantage of our mistakes and put extra runs on the board. We had chances to put runs on the board we just didn't get it done."

A back-and-forth contest featured multiple lead changes late in the game before FGCU clinched its third walk-off win in as many games. The Eagles led 1-0 and 2-1 before falling behind 5-3 heading into the bottom of the seventh. A three-run rally secured the win for FGCU against Rutgers (1-7)

Wisconsin (10-2) turned the tables on FGCU, taking an early lead with a home run in the first. FGCU had bases loaded in the third and fifth innings but the final hit avoided FGCU. Wisconsin added runs in the third, fourth, and sixth innings to give FGCU its first home loss of the season.

FGCU 6, RUTGERS 5
For third time in as many games, the Eagles secured a walk-off win to remain perfect at home. FGCU had to rally, scoring three times in the final inning to defeat Rutgers.

The Green and Blue grabbed an early lead on a Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) RBI single to score Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS).

The game reached a potential turning point in the second when Rutgers put runners at second and third with only one out. Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) kept the home side in front with the first of her four strikeouts to end the inning.

The lead however was negated in the third when Rutgers loaded the bases and an RBI single kept the Scarlet Knights moving station to station. With only one out, a fly ball to left led to a double play as Huff doubled off the runner at third before she could tag.

The Eagles placed two runners on with both Huff and Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) reaching to lead off the inning. FGCU however was unable to take advantage of the situation as both were left on the bases.

Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) picked an opportune moment to shine, crushing her first career home run off the scoreboard in left to put the home team back in front 2-1.

As the game reached the final two innings, a two-RBI triple for Rutgers put the Scarlet Knights back in front 3-2 against Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) until FGCU responded in the bottom half of the sixth. Morgan Sutherland (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) began the rally with a walk, allowing Carissa LiCata (Okeechobee, Fla./Okeechobee HS) to come in to run. LiCata swiped second and came around to score on a Huff triple to right.

A two-run seventh for Rutgers was limited by White, who retired the final two batters of the inning with a strikeout and a pop out, keeping FGCU in position to mount a comeback.

FGCU's seventh began with a McGuire double to right and a LuLu Newmark (Pembroke Pines, Fla.American Heritage HS/Bowling Green) walk. White then walked to load the bases with nobody out for Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS). The shortstop drew a walk to cut the lead to 5-4. Sutherland then walked to tie the game and after a fielder's choice, Huff delivered a walk-off single up the middle to complete the comeback and the 6-5 win.

White (1-1) earned her first career win, tossing 0.2 innings with a strikeout. Draney worked the first four innings, allowing one run on six hits. Wade pitched 2.1 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits.

Huff, Lopez, and Fournet all had multi-hit games and Huff ended the game with two RBIs.

RV WISCONSIN 6, FGCU 0
Wisconsin took an early lead with a home run in the first off Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS), and continued to threaten in the opening frame but the left-hander got the final out with her first strikeout of the day.

The Badgers tacked on another in the third before FGCU had its first chance to get on the board. In the bottom of the third, trailing 2-0, Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) reached on an error and Huff singled to put runners at first and second with one out. Following a ground out, Fournet was walked sending McGuire to the plate. The designated player made solid contact, but it went right to the third baseman who made the play across the diamond.

Another run for the visitors in the fourth made it 3-0 but FGCU would load the bases in the fifth once again. Fournet again was at the plate, this time with a chance to tie the game with runners at the corners, but Wisconsin again elected to pitch around the sophomore. FGCU left the bases loaded in the fifth, continuing to trail 3-0 until Wisconsin broke the game open in the sixth.

An infield single and a two-run homer increased the deficit to 6-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth where FGCU again put pressure on the visitors. A walk and an error in the inning, however with two outs in the inning the Badgers prevented the comeback.

Randolph (4-2) went four innings, allowing three runs on five hits. White pitched the final three innings, allowing three runs on four hits. Both pitchers recorded two strikeouts.

UP NEXT
FGCU wraps up the weekend with a 2:30 p.m. contest against FIU Sunday afternoon.

DAY TWO RESULTS
Rutgers 4, Boston College 0
FGCU 6, Rutgers 5
Wisconsin 0, FGCU 6
FIU 2, Boston College 1
Wisconsin 4, Hofstra 0
Hofstra 2, FIU 0

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 (550-273-3). 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.