FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (8-0) continued its record start to the season sweeping Oakland, taking game one in a 7-1 decision, followed by a 5-4 win Tuesday night at the FGCU Softball Complex.

"I think our pitching was excellent all night long," said head coach David Deiros. "I can't say enough about how our pitchers are throwing the ball and the way they are commanding the strike zone to get ahead of hitters. We'll keep at it, we're still 8-0, a sign of a good team is even when you don't play your best, you still come away with a couple of victories. Looking forward to the weekend and our second tournament."

After three innings in game one, the Eagles held a 2-0 lead over the visiting side but the Golden Grizzlies would push a runner across in the fourth to make it a 2-1 ballgame. The very next inning, the Green and Blue's offense would break out with a five-run frame, highlighted by a two-run RBI double from Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, Fla./Lemon Bay HS/Florida) and another two-run base hit from Bri Bennett (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin HS/Lake Sumter).

In game two, Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) capped off a four-run third with a triple to the right center fence, but the Golden Grizzlies returned the favor with a four-run inning of their own in the fourth. The tie would not last long as the Eagles broke up the 4-4 ballgame the very next inning thanks in part to Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS)'s base hit up the middle scoring Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, Fla./North Ft. Myers/Seminole State) from second.

GAME ONE: FGCU 7, OU 1
The Eagles wasted no time jumping on the board, turning Huff's leadoff walk in the first into the first run of the game. Senior Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) hit a tapper over to third and with her speed being a factor, the errant throw deviated off the first base target, bringing in Huff all the way around.

Soon after in the third, FGCU would load the bases, but would come up only with one run as Clemens' grounder to second would bring a run across for the 2-0 lead. In the following inning, the Golden Grizzlies responded with a run of their own putting the pressure back on FGCU.

After Kelly singled and capitalized on a fielding error advancing all the way to third, Huff's skied a fly ball into left, which was dropped by the left fielder, allowing Kelly to come home. Moments later, Lopez would single and steal second, setting up Clemens for her two-run double to give FGCU a 5-1 advantage. Three batters later, Bennett was called on as a pinch hitter and delivered with a single up the middle to cap off the five-run fifth inning.

Meanwhile in the circle, junior Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS)  surrendered just three hits, one in the fourth, fifth and sixth to keep Oakland at Bay. Despite exiting in the sixth, the junior fanned six Golden Grizzlies, allowed one run and no walks through 81 pitches. Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter HS) pitched in the seventh as she retired the side to give FGCU the final 7-1 victory.

Three Eagles manufactured two or more hits, while Clemens brought in a team-high three runs.

GAME TWO: FGCU 5, OU 4
Scoreless midway through the third, Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) took advantage of two defensive miscues from the Gold and Black, sprinting around first and all the way to third. Lopez would bring her in with an infield single as Clemens carried over her hot bat into game two and connected on a single plating across another Eagle.

Facing two outs, Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) walked to put runners on first and second after Riley McCarthy (Manassas, Va./Brentsville District HS) came in to pinch run for Clemens. Ahead in the count, Swiderski roped a triple to right center, clearing the bases, swelling the FGCU lead to 4-0.

The lead was short-lived as Oakland matched FGCU with four runs in the fourth, using three hits and two Eagle errors to tie the affair.

In the next bottom half inning, newcomer Farley Callaghan (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) got things going with a single which allowed Kelly to come in as a pinch runner as she stole second, and then advanced to third on a passed ball. One batter later, Huff provided the heroics, lacing a base hit up the middle to give FGCU a 5-4 margin.

In the final inning, Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS) was called in for her sixth save of the season as Oakland threatened. Facing runners on first and second, Bauman sealed the victory forcing a strikeout and a grounder as the Eagles improved to 8-0.

In the circle, Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) went 3.2 innings, scattering four hits while conceding four runs (none earned) and striking out three batters. Mesiemore (4-0) would pick up the win in her 2.2 innings of work, fanning three Golden Grizzlies while scattering two hits.

FGCU produced nine hits led by Lopez with three as Swiderski produced two RBI.

UP NEXT
FGCU is back in action this Friday with games against Connecticut (5-4) at 4:45 p.m., followed by Stony Brook (0-0) at 7 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 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 (581-298-3). 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