MIAMI, Fla. – Just three weeks remain in the regular season for the FGCU softball team as the Eagles look to finish the 2017 season strong. Following a bye week from conference action, the Green and Blue begin a 10-game road swing with a doubleheader against FIU Wednesday in Miami.

The Eagles and Panthers are slated for a 5 p.m. first pitch, with live stats provided by FIU.

THE GREEN AND BLUE
Hoping to bring an end to a five-game losing streak, the Eagles will need the top of the order to continue to set the tone. Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) raised her average to .407 and sits Top 10 nationally in two categories while leading off. With 61 hits, Huff ranks eighth in the country and her six triples is good for sixth in the country.

Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) and Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) are both hitting above .330 this season, providing FGCU with multiple weapons at the top of the order. Fournet has now driven in 36 runs this season on 13 doubles and four home runs.

Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) and Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) both boast ERAs under 3.00, combining for 19 of FGCU's 21 wins this season.

A LOOK AT THE BOOK
A number of Eagles have made their mark in a very short period of time. A career .369 batter through three seasons, Huff holds the highest career batting average amongst players that played their entire career at the Division I level. Overall, the junior sits fifth all-time in program history. Four spots behind Huff, Fournet's .348 average is good for ninth in the history of the program.

Fournet's 29 doubles is good for fifth all-time as well, while also sitting third in Division I history.

Randolph's 1.86 ERA puts her fifth in FGCU history, however the left-hander holds the lowest ERA in Division I history.

FGCU Career Records (FGCU transitioned to Division I in 2007-2008)
Batting Average

	Name	Years	Avg.
1.	Carmen Paez	2007-08	.430
2.	Jessica Carter	2007-09	.427
3.	Ashley Cecil	2003-05	.425
4.	Cheyenne Jenks	2006-09	.381
5.	Kelsey Huff	2015-17	.369
6.	Kelsey Carpenter	2012-15	.359
7.	Lauran Ziegler	2009-10	.356
8.	Courtney Platt	2008-11	.355
9.	Racquel Fournet	2016-17	.348
10.	Jessica Gary	2007-10	.342

 
Doubles

	Name	Years	2Bs
1.	Courtney Platt	2008-11	49
	Cheyenne Jenks	2006-09	49
3.	Jessica Rouse	2004-07	38
4.	Kelsey Carpenter	2012-15	32
5.	Racquel Fournet	2016-17	29
	Jessica Carter	2007-09	29
7.	Louie Ross	2012-16	28
	Desiree Miller	2012-16	28
9.	Kirsten Bembnowski	2011-14	27
	Blaire Toleman	2003-05	27

 
Earned Run Average

	Name	Years	ERA
1.	Kelly Powe	2004-05	0.87
2.	Sarah Backe	2006-07	1.18
3.	Rachael Edinger	2006-08	1.29
4.	Annie Voyles	2004-05	1.53
5.	Riley Randolph	2016-17	1.86
6.	Dana Frantz	2006-09	2.10
7.	Catherine McDaniel	2009-11	2.16
8.	Shelby Morgan	2012-15	2.33
9.	Christine Beck	2003-06	2.34
10.	Stephanie Sullivan	2010-11	2.56

 
SCOUTING THE PANTHERS
After winning 17-straight, the Panthers brought a halt to a brief skid by taking two-of-three from C-USA leaders Marshall last weekend. FIU has outscored opponents 232-93 this season thanks to tremendous efforts in the circle from Megan Kugelmann, Shannon Saile, and Abby Summers. Kugelmann leads the staff with a 12-3 record and a 1.81 ERA while Saile is right behind her with a 1.87 ERA and 11 victories. Not to be overlooked, Summers brings a 1.91 ERA and a perfect 10-0 record into the midweek doubleheader.

Offensively, Stephanie Texeira headlines a potent lineup that has hit 31 home runs this season. Texeira leads the way with 10 homers with 37 RBIs and a .373 average. Jackie Schoff is hitting a team-best .447 with 21 stolen bases and 40 runs scored.

FGCU is 7-14 all-time against FIU including a 6-1 loss earlier this season.

UP NEXT
FGCU returns to conference play with a three-game set at Kennesaw State beginning Saturday at 1 p.m. The Owls currently sit second in the league with a 7-5 record.

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 (561-284-3). 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.