FORT MYERS, Fla. – Wednesday marks the beginning of a five-game in five-day stretch for the FGCU softball team as the Eagles feature in contests against UCF and Providence during that time. FGCU first welcomes in-state rivals UCF to Fort Myers for a mid-week matchup Wednesday at 4:30 before both teams head to Orlando for a weekend tournament. There, the Green and Blue meet Providence three times and UCF once more.

TICKET INFORMATION
Ticket prices for Wednesday's game are $7 for adults and $5 for youth. Season tickets meanwhile are $39 for adults and $29 for youth. For those interested in purchasing single-game or season tickets, contact the FGCU ticket office at 239-590-7145 or visit FGCUTickets.com.

GREENOUT
Wednesday's game is a green out and fans are encouraged to wear green to the game.

LAST TIME OUT
The Green and Blue went 3-2 at the FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational last weekend, defeating Boston College, Hofstra and Rutgers. FGCU used a walk-off homer from Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) to defeat BC 3-1 and took advantage of multiple Pride errors early in the ballgame to run-rule Hofstra 10-2.

The following day, Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) provided the walk-off magic, delivering a single up the middle to complete a three-run seventh to defeat Rutgers 6-5.

Huff leads FGCU with a .429 average at the plate with a team-leading 13 RBIs and three triples. Fournet is hitting .400 in her sophomore season, while Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) is batting .390.

In the circle, Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) paces the staff with a 2.31 ERA and four victories.

SCOUTING THE KNIGHTS
UCF (6-6) is coming off a hotly contested meeting with Alabama that saw the Knights fall 3-2. Courtney Rotton leads UCF offensively with a .371 average and one of four home runs hit by the Knights in 2017. Outside of Rotton, the Knights look to Linnea Goodman and Tamesha Glover to drive in runs.

The Knights have three pitchers with a pair of wins with Alea White earning most of the innings this season. White, 2-4 on the year, has tossed 40 innings with 23 strikeouts and 20 walks as a freshman.

The Eagles are 0-3 all-time against the Knights, including a pair of losses last season in Orlando.

SCOUTING THE FRIARS
Providence (2-3) opened the season two weeks ago in Orlando and returns to Central Florida for seven games in five days. The Friars have lost to LIU-Brooklyn and Stetson during their opening weekend. In limited at bats, Nicole Lundstrom is batting .429 with a double and a triple while both Brittney Veler and Michaela Veneziali are hitting .333.

Christina Ramirez has earned both wins for Providence, compiling a 2-1 record over her three appearances. In 20 innings, Ramirez has allowed eight runs on 17 hits while striking out 13. Megan McCune meanwhile is 0-1 with a 6.43 ERA over seven innings.

In the only prior meeting with Providence, the Eagles came away 10-2 winners in 2013.

UP NEXT
FGCU welcomes to Holy Cross and Ball State to Southwest Florida for contests on March 7 and 8.

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 (550-27-3). 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.