FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (13-0) claimed another tournament crown this season once again sweeping the field, this time claiming a 2-1 victory over UConn (7-7) in extra innings Sunday afternoon.

"It was a really nice effort all the way around by our pitching staff," commented head coach David Deiros. "They had to hang in tough because defensively we made a couple of key mistakes and we didn't really hit the ball the way we wanted to today but you have to tip your hat off to UConn's pitcher Stockley for keeping us off balance the whole game. Swiderski's heads up play on the error up the middle to pick off the runner at third was the biggest play of the day. First and third and one out is a lot worse than two outs and a runner on first. Jumper did a great job being aggressive on the bases to score the winning run and it may have not been the prettiest win but we'll take it.

FGCU struck first in its half of the second inning after Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) singled to right to set up Bri Bennett (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin HS/Lake Sumter) as the junior laced her first triple of the year to the left center wall to put FGCU up in front 1-0.

As the game moved onto the fourth, the Huskies threatened, loading the bases with two outs as starting pitcher Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) was removed, conceding her only three hits of the game in the frame. Coming in for her earliest appearance of the year was Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS)  who forced a grounder to end the inning.

FGCU's 1-0 lead came to an end in the sixth after UConn pushed a runner across home via a sacrifice fly to right. Both squads would go down in order in the seventh as the game headed to extras.

With one away and a runner already on second, a bobbled ball at short was then handed off to Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) who then made a throw over to third to pick off the Husky as a grounder then ended the inning.

It was now the Eagles turn to seal the victory on their first attempt and they did just that. With Ahnie Jumper (Clewiston, Fla./Plantation American Heritage) on second for McGuire in the lineup, the freshman swiped third putting the pressure on UConn. Shortly after, Bennett – whose base hit Friday night provided the winning run – hit a tapper to the pitcher as Jumper raced down 60 feet, beating the throw and sending FGCU home with its 13th win.

With the victory, Bauman (1-0) garnered her first collegiate win after going 4.2 innings, surrendering just two hits in the relief appearance.

UP NEXT
FGCU will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., this Friday to take part in the FSU Unconquered Invitational. The Eagles will face the likes of Hofstra, #5 Oregon and #9 in-state foe FSU from March 2-4.

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 586-298-3 (.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