FORT MYERS, Fla. – Unable to string together hits, the FGCU softball team fell 5-1 Wednesday night to in-state rivals UCF. The Eagles (8-7) scattered four hits as FGCU was unable to put together the big inning against the Knights (7-6).

"UCF put pretty consistent pressure on us for the first five innings and were able to withstand most of it," said head coach David Deiros. "We just couldn't get off the field enough to keep the game a little bit closer for us to rally. I thought we did a better job as our at bats kept on going as far as adjusting to what (Alea) White was doing but a little too late. We have to make sure we do our job better because we have a return matchup this weekend and three more games against Providence."

Playing through rain to begin the contest, a pair of scoreless innings led into a three-run third for the visitors. The Eagles took advantage of an error in the bottom half of the inning to cut into the deficit but UCF pushed across two more runs in the fifth to increase the lead to 5-1.

The Green and Blue had an opportunity to take an early lead with Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) 60 feet away in the first, but a ground out ended the inning with the game scoreless.

After stranding two runners in the first, Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) worked out of another jam in the second but could not replicate the result again in the third. The Knights loaded the bases in the top of the third and scratched across the game's first run on a fielder's choice. Megan Greenwell then split the left-center gap, scoring a pair of runs and attempted to score herself only for Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) to deliver a great throw to Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) who then turned and fired the ball to LuLu Newmark (Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage HS/Bowling Green). Newmark laid the tag on the arm of Greenwell to limit the damage.

FGCU immediately responded starting with an Erica Ward (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy/State College of Florida) lead-off single up the middle. The junior moved to third with two outs in the inning on a Lopez bunt single. The Green and Blue put the runners in motion, leading to a Knight error while Ward scampered home and Lopez moved to second.

Ward made an impact defensively in the fourth, throwing out a runner at the plate from right field to end the inning and keep the game at 3-1.

The Eagles tallied just two hits the rest of the way while UCF added a pair of runs in the sixth for the 5-1 final.

Ward had her best game in her young FGCU career, reaching three twice on a pair of singles with an outfield assist to her name.

Wade (3-3) was hit with the loss, throwing 3.1 innings and allowing three runs on six hits. Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) worked the final 3.2 innings, surrendering two runs on three hits.

UP NEXT
FGCU will get another chance at UCF this weekend when the Green and Blue travel to Orlando. While in Central Florida, FGCU will meet Providence three times and UCF once. Actions begins Friday at 6 p.m. against the Friars.

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 (550-275-3). 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.