FORT MYERS, Fla. – Coming off a 4-0 weekend, the FGCU softball team will now prepare for a tough test at home as the Eagles welcome RV USF for a pair of contests Wednesday afternoon beginning at 4 p.m.

The Eagles kicked off the season with their annual FGCU Kickoff Classic on Thursday, Feb 8. FGCU welcomed the likes of NC State, Georgetown, and Ball State. Memphis was also featured in the tournament field but did face the Eagles.

In the season opener, the Green and Blue rallied in the sixth, posting four runs to pull away from LIU-Brooklyn 9-6. In the process, Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Humpter HS) garnered her first collegiate victory while Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS) collected her first career save. Three Eagles recorded two or more hits, led by Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) who went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a walk.

The Eagles carried their momentum into the next day against ACC foe NC State. Scoreless after two frames, FGCU posted crooked numbers in the third and sixth en route to a 7-2 final. Farley Callaghan (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) hit a homer in her first career at-bat as the Eagles produced seven hits on offense.

In the final two days of the tournament, dominant pitching was on full display for FGCU. Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) tossed 6.2 innings of no-hit softball against Georgetown before a homerun ended her night. White received a standing ovation from the Green and Blue faithful as she exited and Bauman came in to close out a 4-2 win over the Hoyas.

Sunday afternoon, ASUN All-Preseason selection Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) made her 2018 debut. In the circle, the junior tossed 5.2 strong innings, striking out nine batters while allowing one run and no walks. Bauman then came in to record her fourth save in a row to secure a 4-1 win over Ball State. 

ASUN PLAYER OF THE WEEK
After going 7-for-11 at the dish in four contests this past weekend, junior first baseman Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School)  was named the ASUN Conference's Player of the Week.

Fournet hit .636 over the four-game stretch to start the 2018 campaign to help FGCU get off to a 4-0 start. The junior laced two doubles, tallied one home run, scored six runs and collected three RBI from those seven hits.

The award is the third of Fournet's career and the first since February of 2016.

SCOUTING THE USF BULLS
USF has had an impressive start to its 2018 season going 4-1. During the five-game stretch, the Bulls pulled off an upset victory over then #19 Michigan in a 3-2 contest while their only loss was to #2 Florida (14-3).

The Bulls have tallied 10 total multiple-base hits, including six doubles and three home runs. Samantha Worrell leads a quartet of Bulls batting .300 or better with a .417 mark in 12 at-bats.

USF features six pitchers who have all seen action this season. Kalen McGill has made four appearances with a 1-0 record while Georgina Corrick boasts a 1.40 ERA.

Head coach Ken Eriksen is in his 22nd season at USF and most recently earned his 900th victory.  

FGCU is 2-8 all-time against USF including a pair of losses last season in Tampa. The Eagles won the first two contests between the two schools in 2008, but since then have struggled against the Bulls. Wednesday also marks just the second and third meetings between the two programs in Fort Myers.

Ticket Information
Single game tickets and 18 entry Season Punch Cards are on sale now.  Single game tickets are good for all games occurring on a single day and are $7 for adults (age 13 and up) and $5 for youth (ages 3-12).

The Season Punch Card costs only $59 and allows 18 entries into the Softball complex for any regular season home game. Punches can be used in any combination until the pass is exhausted. For those interested in purchasing tickets, contact the FGCU ticket office at 239-590-7145 or visit FGCUTickets.com.he win against Michigan.
 
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 16th season as head coach. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to 12 seasons with a winning record, eight campaigns with 35 wins and a win percentage of .659 (577-298-3). 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