FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team split a pair of games Wednesday night, losing to #1 Florida State before taking down Canisius in extra innings. The Eagles (14-11) fell victim to an offensive explosion from the top-ranked Seminoles (25-1-1), falling 13-1 in five innings before FGCU walked-off the Griffins (9-11) 2-1 in nine innings.

"All I can say the kids battled hard today for all nine innings to go ahead and pick up the win in game two," said head coach David Deiros. "It was a tough battle and Canisius brought it to us but we were able to hold and find a way to win. The proudest I am of them is, after playing really poorly and having FSU take it to us in the first game, we were able to come back and win the second one. That's a sign on character."

The Seminoles used a big third inning to break the game open and FGCU tried to extend the game but managed only one in the fifth, falling 13-1.

Bree Tourtillott (Dixon, Ill./Oregon HS/Tallahassee Community College) sent FGCU home happy however with a pinch-hit, walk-off single to right-center to score Emily Demurias (Miami, Fla./Killian HS) in a 2-1 win over Canisius. Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) went the distance, striking out three while allowing just one run to earn the win.

GAME ONE: #1 FLORIDA STATE 13, FGCU 1 (5 INNINGS)
FGCU had an opportunity to keep the Seminoles off the board in the first, but an infield single extended the inning and ultimately allowed FSU to take an early lead.

Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) tried to spark the offense with a leadoff single and nearly did when Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) drew a walk to put runners on first and second. FGCU left two on the bases however to trail 1-0 after the first.

The Seminoles scored twice in the second, nine times in the third and one more in the fifth to take a 13-0 lead into the bottom of the inning, where FGCU was tasked with trying to extend the game.

The Green and Blue nearly achieved that, putting a pair of runners on in the fifth and Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) driving in Lopez, but that would be all for the Eagles.

Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) suffered the loss, throwing two innings and allowing eight runs. Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) worked the final three innings, allowing five runs.

GAME TWO: FGCU 2, CANISIUS 1 (9 INNINGS)
FGCU left five runners on base through three innings, sending the game to the fifth with FGCU trailing 1-0.

Finally, the Green and Blue broke through on a Fournet single to bring Huff home from second to tie the game.  

As the game moved to the seventh, the Griffins put a runner at third with two away, but Wade recorded her third and final strikeout to send the Eagles up to bat.

FGCU put a runner at second with one out in the eighth but waited until the ninth to seal the victory.

LuLu Newmark (Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage HS/Bowling Green) led off the inning with a single and was removed for Demurias who took second on a wild pitch. The junior then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before coming home to score on Tourtillott's walk-off single.

Wade (6-4) pitched all nine innings, striking out three and walking one.

UP NEXT
The Eagles host their annual Pink Out tomorrow, with the Eagles welcoming IUPUI and Iowa State tomorrow to kick off the Battle at the Beach.

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 (556-278-3). 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.