FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (10-0) continued its hot start to the season taking game one over UConn (5-6) 8-3 as Taylor Bauman shut door the for a record-setting seventh time this season en route to a 2-1 win over Stony Brook (1-1) to cap off day one.

"Just a fantastic job all the way around by our entire roster," said head coach David Deiros. "All the kids we were able to be put in executed their roles and I'm really proud of them. Congratulations to Taylor Bauman for setting the FGCU single-season save record in 10 games and we're looking forward to bigger and better things from everyone moving forward."

In game one, the Eagles' offense broke out with five runs in the second frame to eventually pull away from the visiting Huskies. A pair of two-run singles from Erica Ward (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy/Seminole State College) and Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) highlighted the inning as FGCU would tack on a run in the third and a few in the sixth for added cushion.

Game two provided an all-around nail biter as the Eagles led 1-0 after two, but the Seawolves would respond in the fourth to knot the affair. In the sixth, junior Bri Bennett (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin HS/Lake Sumter) came in the clutch, being called on as pinch-hitter and delivered rightfully so with a base hit to bring in the eventual game-winning run before Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS) shut the door in the 2-1 win.

GAME ONE: FGCU 8, UCONN 3
It didn't take too long for the Huskies to get on the board as Olivia Sappington's lead-off homerun made it a 1-0 game. One inning later, the FGCU offense would collect five runs on three hits including one error from UConn to break open the ball game.

After Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) was hit to load the bases, Ward stepped right in and cranked a liner up the middle to bring in a pair. The Eagles would load the bases again and this time it was Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) that would come up with an RBI sacrifice fly to center and two batters later, Fournet would cap off the five-run frame lacing a base hit up the middle.

In the third, Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) cranked her third homer of the season, making it a 6-1 game. The Huskies would push runners across in the fifth and sixth but Fournet once again provided the extra insurance with her two-run RBI single in the sixth to secure the 8-3 win.

After surrendering the homer in the first, Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) settled down and went on to fan six Huskies while scattering just five hits and three runs as the junior moved to 4-0 on the season. In total, FGCU produced seven hits on offense, led by Fournet with two, along with her four RBI.

GAME TWO: FGCU 2, SB 1
After McGuire connected on a single, two Seawolves' errors would bring the senior around to score the first run of the game in the second. The lead lasted two innings before Stony Brook responded with one run in the fourth.

 Meanwhile, starting pitcher Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) scattered just five hits over her 5.2 innings of work, with five strikeouts to her name, before exiting the circle with one runner on in the sixth.

Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter HS) came in for relief and escaped the sixth frame on a clean sheet as the two clubs remained in a 1-1 tie. In the very next inning, the Eagles worked their magic staring at two outs. After pinch-runner Ahnie Jumper (Clewiston, Fla./Plantation American Heritage) advanced to second on a single, Bennett was called upon to pinch-hit. Ahead in the count 1-0, Bennett roped one to the left side getting just past the outstretched glove of the third baseman as Jumper rounded third and scored.

Heading into the final inning up 2-1, the Eagles found themselves in a one out bases load jam as coach Deiros would go to Bauman once again for another save opportunity, this time a record-setting chance. Bauman struck out the first batter she faced and then forced a small roller over to first for the easy putout as she slammed the door for the seventh time this season en route to the 2-1 victory.

With the save, Bauman set the new FGCU single-season save record which was previously held by Rachael Edinger back in 2007 with six saves. In her 7.2 innings pitched this season, the newcomer has fanned seven batters while allowing no runs and conceding just two walks.

UP NEXT
FGCU is back in action tomorrow with games against Wright State (0-7) at 4:45 p.m. and Southern Illinois (6-4) 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 is in his 16th season as head coach. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to a 583-298-3 (.661) overall mark, 12 seasons with a winning record, and eight campaigns with 35 wins. 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