ORLANDO, Fla. – A sensational performance in the circle and a late rally set up a chance for the FGCU softball team to sweep the second day of the UCF Invite but the Green and Blue were left with just one victory following a walk-off home run. Taylor Wade set the tone for the Eagles (10-8) early, striking out seven Providence (2-6) batters en route to a 3-0 victory. In the nightcap against UCF (9-6), a Brittany McGuire RBI single in the fifth tied the game, but the Knights won it in the seventh on a walk-off home run.

"We played two very good games today," said head coach David Deiros. "Taylor (Wade) threw an absolute gem against Providence and we competed to the finish against UCF. I'm looking forward to the final game of the tournament tomorrow."

Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) bounced back from a rough outing earlier in the week, retiring a career-high seven batters on strikes. The senior went to work with an early 1-0 lead in the first and the Eagles took advantage of a crucial Friar error in the third to score two more for the 3-0 lead. Wade was in control, scattering six hits while walking none to guide the Eagles to a 3-0 win.

FGCU again had an early lead in the first only for it to disappear in the second inning and the Knights to grab a 3-1 lead after four innings. In the fifth, Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) and McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) produced the second and third runs of the game for the visitors to tie the game. However, in the seventh the Knights prevailed 5-3 on a walk-off home run down the left field line.

FGCU 3, PROVIDENCE 0

Wade produced one of the best games of her career with a seven-strikeout performance to begin the second day in Orlando. Helped by an early advantage thanks to an RBI from Fournet that scored Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS), the senior allowed just two hits through four innings to give the offense time to increase the lead.

The Eagles tacked on those insurance runs in the third, taking advantage of a throwing error scoring both Fournet and Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS).

Wade (4-3) limited the Friars to four hits the rest of the way to secure the win.

UCF 5, FGCU 3
Hoping to avenge a loss to the Knight earlier in the week, the Eagles took an early lead on a McGuire double down the left field line to score Lopez from first base. An RBI single from UCF's Aubrey Johnson in the second negated the lead and sent the game into the third inning with a 1-1 score.

It wasn't until the fourth inning that UCF would grab the lead on a sacrifice fly and a double. Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) kept the Eagles in the game, forcing a ground out to end the inning.

The out would prove crucial as the Green and Blue immediately got the runs back in the top of the fifth. A Fournet double to center brought Lopez in from first. McGuire completed the rally with an RBI single, after Fournet moved to third on a wild pitch.

Randolph struck out one final batter to end the fifth with runners at first and second in what would be her final inning of work.
Wade came on to pitch the sixth, keeping the Knights off the board for the time being.

After FGCU was unable to score in the top of the seventh, Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) was called upon to pitch the seventh. Courtney Rotton ended the game with a two-run home run, giving the home side a 5-3 victory.

White (1-3) suffered the loss while Randolph went five innings, allowing three runs on six hits. Wade pitched one inning, allowing one hit.

Lopez and McGuire led the Eagles from the playe. The duo combined for five hits and McGuire tallied two RBIs.

UP NEXT
The weekend concludes with an 11 a.m. contest against Providence tomorrow in Orlando.

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 (552-276-3). 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.