FORT MYERS, Fla. – A two-run fourth inning proved to be the difference as the FGCU softball team took its first step in defending its ASUN regular season title. The Eagles (20-14, 2-1 ASUN) claimed a 4-2 win over Jacksonville (21-14, 1-2) Sunday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game series.

"The ASUN Conference schedule is very rigorous," said head coach David Deiros. "You have to go out and win every series you can because everybody is tough. Especially at home, you need to make sure you win the home series because winning on the road is always difficult. Great performance today from Riley and I thought she pitched better today than yesterday."

A two-out triple off the bat of Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) followed by an infield single from Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) put FGCU in front 4-1 midway through the contest and Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) and the Eagle defense would do the rest to claim the opening conference series. After both teams swapped runs in the first two innings, a Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) double in the third gave the Green and Blue a slim lead before FGCU tacked on the insurance runs in the fourth. JU got one run back in the seventh and brought the go-ahead run to the plate but for the second-straight day, Randolph induced a game-ending ground out.

It was FGCU that struck first, capitalizing on an error with the bases loaded in the first. Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) sent a hard-hit ball to third but Jordan Daniels was unable to field it cleanly. Daniels attempted to step on the bag instead of making the throw to first, but Innamorato was able to beat her to the bag as the ball fell out of Daniels' glove.

An Eagle error allowed the Dolphins to tie the ballgame at 1-1 after two innings but the top of the order came through again for the Green and Blue.

Lopez started the inning with an infield single and a stolen base. The junior scored easily when Innamorato hit a double off Daniel's glove into the left field corner.

Leading 2-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth, the Eagles tallied two important insurance runs. With Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) standing at first, Huff found the fight field line for a triple, scoring the senior from first. Two pitches later, Huff scampered home on a Lopez infield single to put FGCU in front 4-1.

Jacksonville threatened in the seventh, scoring on a single to left after an error and brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate, but Randolph secured the series win with a ground out to end the game.

Huff and Lopez went a combined 4-for-6 at the top of the order while Innamorato tacked on two more hits. Randolph (11-3) earned the win, allowing no earned runs on five hits while striking out eight.

UP NEXT
FGCU hits the road to face UNF as ASUN play continues. The series with the Ospreys begins Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 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 (562-281-3). 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.