FORT MYERS, Fla. – Battling the top team in the country the FGCU softball team held the #1 Florida State Seminoles to three singles through three innings, only to fall 7-0 Tuesday night. The Eagles (13-10) were unable to get the offense going against the top-ranked Seminoles (23-1-1), collecting three hits in the game but still put pressure on the visitors.

"I thought we had really good moments today where we kept the game close and within striking distance," said head coach David Deiros. "We just didn't make enough plays on defense to keep it at zero or one run and once you extend an inning against a good hitting team, they're going to take advantage and that's what happened. We just have to go after it better and swing the bats better."

Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) kept the Seminoles in check through the first three innings, holding the visitors to just three singles in that time. It wasn't until the fourth inning that Florida State strung a pair of hits together and ultimately scored three runs.

Looking to bounce back, Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) led off the Eagles' fourth with a single through the right side. The sophomore immediately swiped second but was stranded there.

Randolph allowed two hits through the next two innings before the Seminoles scored four times in the seventh to make it 7-0 to put the game out of reach.

FGCU used a walk from Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) and a single from Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) to threaten in the final frame but neither scored as the game to a close.

Randolph (7-3) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on 12 hits over 6.2 innings. Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) got the final out of the game, allowing one hit in that time.

UP NEXT
The Eagles get one more chance at the #1 Seminoles tomorrow at 4:30 before turning their attention to Canisius at 7 p.m.

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 (555-277-3). 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.