KENNESAW, Ga. – A strong performance in the circle ended a 10-game skid for the FGCU softball team as the Eagles split a doubleheader Saturday afternoon against Kennesaw State. FGCU (22-24, 4-7 ASUN) suffered a 4-3 extra inning loss to begin the day before bouncing back to beat the Owls (32-15, 8-6) in the nightcap 3-0.
"After a really demoralizing defeat in game one where we had the lead and couldn't hold it, it was great to get a super performance from our team in game two," said head coach
David Deiros. "Taylor threw an absolute gem and our defense stepped up in a big way turning a few double plays."
A three-run second inning put FGCU in front for the third-straight game but the Eagles fell late, dropping a 4-3 decision in extra innings.
Bree Tourtillott (Dixon, Ill./Oregon HS/Tallahassee Community College) capped the scoring in the second with a two-run double after
Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) struck out the side in the first. The Owls responded though with a pair of runs in the third before Kennesaw State tied the game with a run in the fifth. FGCU put the lead off runner on in the top of the eighth but left her on the bases and KSU scored the winner in the bottom half following a one-out double.
A masterful performance in the circle from
Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) guided the Eagles to a 3-0 win and a split in the conference series against the Owls. Both sides were scoreless through three innings until
Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) broke the deadlock with an RBI groundout in the fourth. Two innings later
Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) gave FGCU a pair of insurance runs with a two-run homer to left-center. Wade allowed just one hit over the final two innings to secure the win.
GAME ONE: Kennesaw State 4, FGCU 3 (8 Innings)
Randolph picked up where she left off against the Owls, striking out the side in the first to set up a big inning for the Eagles in the second.
The rally started with a leadoff double off the bat of
LuLu Newmark (Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage HS/Bowling Green) and Innamorato followed with a single to put runners at the corners.
Jeanie Verderese (Jacksonville, Fla./Creekside HS) picked up the first RBI of the day for FGCU, driving in Newmark on an infield single. Tourtillott then stepped to the plate and delivered the big hit, bringing home two on a double to left field to put FGCU in front 3-0.
The Owls then struck for two in the third, stringing together three hits around a pair of strikeouts but Randolph limited the damage with her seventh strikeout of the day.
Kennesaw State then scored again in the fifth, trying the ballgame on an unearned run.
FGCU put a runner on in the seventh and eighth but could not take advantage. Kennesaw State then put together a double and a single in the bottom of the inning to claim the 4-3 win.
Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) tallied two hits, while Randolph took the loss. The sophomore went 7.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on 11 hits while striking out 10.
GAME TWO: FGCU 3, Kennesaw State 0
Kennesaw State recorded the game's first hit in the third, a lead off infield single, but it was FGCU to strike first for the fourth-consecutive game. After Huff led off the inning with a bunt single, she swiped second and advanced the third on a passed ball, allowing Fournet to bring her home on an RBI ground out.
FGCU threatened again in the fifth loading the bases with two outs but the Green and Blue left the bases loaded. However, in the sixth the Eagles added some needed insurance runs.
Fournet led off the inning with a double to left center and two batters later, Innamorato homered to left center to put the Eagles in front 3-0.
Wade (8-11) allowed one hit over the final two innings and conceded five hits in a shutout victory.
UP NEXT
FGCU and Kennesaw State wrap up the three-game series Sunday 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 (564-291-3). 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.
