FORT MYERS, Fla. – Trailing 6-5 heading into the bottom half of the sixth frame, the FGCU softball team (1-0) responded with four runs on four hits to regain its lead and ultimately pull away from LIU-Brooklyn (0-1) Thursday night at the FGCU Softball Complex to claim the season-opener 9-6.
 
"Offensively we showed what we're capable of the entire day, but defensively the mistakes we made are inexcusable," said head coach David Deiros. "Our pitchers did a good enough job to keep LIU at bay, but when you extend innings to four, five, six outs and throw away chances of finishing innings, your offense better come through. They did tonight and I'm proud of them for it and we just have to go ahead and clean it up before we play the rest of our games."

Through three innings of play, FGCU held a 4-1 advantage over the visiting side and after each team marked the scoreboard with one run a piece in the fourth, LIU produced four runs over the next two frames to take a 6-5 edge over the Eagles. Looking to rally, FGCU did just that, capitalizing on two errors from the Blackbirds, manufacturing four runs with one frame remaining.

Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) scratched the first run across the plate in the first, reaching on a walk that resulted in her coming all the way home after a double to right center from Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS). LIU-Brooklyn answered with a run in the second, as the FGCU offense started gaining traction and broke out in the third frame.

Back-to-back singles from Lopez and Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) set the stage for newcomer Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, Fla./Florida/Lemon Bay HS). The junior dug her cleats into the box and blasted FGCU's first homerun of the season over the left field wall, giving the Green and Blue a 4-1 advantage.

Over the next two frames, both teams scored one run a piece and after four innings of work, starting pitcher Morgan White's (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) night came to a close. White scattered two runs on three hits, allowed one walk and fanned one batter. Of White's allowed runs, none were earned. 

Leading 5-2 heading into the fifth, LIU-Brooklyn would tack on four runs over the next pair of frames to put the Eagles in one-point hole.

In the sixth inning, FGCU's offense came through with four runs on four hits while taking advantage of two defensive errors from the visiting side. With Ashley Swiderski (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) on first after reaching on a walk, Lopez singled to second and advanced all the way home after a throwing error from the second baseman. FGCU swelled its lead to three (9-6) with the help of RBI singles from McGuire – her second RBI of the night – and LuLu Newmark (Pembroke Pines, Fla./Bowling Green/American Heritage HS).

Coming in for the save in relief of Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Humpter HS) who went two innings, was Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS). The freshman allowed just one hit before securing her first collegiate save en route to the 9-6 victory.

Messiemore (1-0) secured the win and her first collegiate victory, working 2.0 innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on three hits.

UP NEXT
FGCU will face ACC foe NC State Friday night at 7 pm

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 .669 (574-298-3). 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 awareness.