CLEARWATER, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (23-5) fell in its first game 5-3 to Maine, snapping its nine-game win streak (9-14) then saw itself trailing against Lehigh (4-15) before completing the 4-2 comeback triumph to end day two of the Clearwater Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

"We had the tying run on base in our last at-bats of both games," said head coach David Deiros. "That's all I can ask of our team and we went 1-for-2 on the day. The trials we are going through now will serve us well when we start ASUN play next week."

In game one versus Maine, FGCU led 3-1 after four innings but the Black Bears would tally three runs in the fifth off a homer en route to a final score of 5-3. Looking to bounce back, the Eagles and Mountain Hawks battled it out as Lehigh took a slight 2-1 edge after the sixth before FGCU plated three runs across in the top of the seventh to seal the 4-2 comeback triumph.

FGCU 3, MAINE 5
The Eagles trailed 1-0 after the top of the first as Maine produced its first run of the afternoon on a double to left field scoring in one run. FGCU soon responded two innings later in its bottom half of the third with three runs on three hits.

After Emily Demurias kicked off things with a lead-off double, Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, Fla./North Ft. Myers/Seminole State) then singled to put runners on the corners. This set up Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS)  to step into the box and belt a stand-up triple to center for the 2-1 advantage. The Green and Blue capped the inning off pushing one more run via a sacrifice fly to lead 3-1.

Maine soon regained its lead by one after Maddie Decker launched a three-run homer in the fifth. FGCU would strand a runner on third in its half along with two apiece in the final two innings as Maine would tack on one more in the seventh for the final score of 5-3.

In total, FGCU registered eight hits led by Huff with three and two RBI. Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter HS) gets tagged with the loss moving to 8-2 after 5.2 innings.

FGCU 4, LEHIGH 2
FGCU and Lehigh kept the scoreboard clean until each team scored one run apiece in their respective halves of the fourth inning as Bri Bennett (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin HS/Lake Sumter) recorded the first run on a sacrifice fly.

Tied 1-1 heading into the sixth, LU used a lead-off double from Ashley Rabago who would then be brought home on single to first with two outs. Facing one final inning as the designated visitor, FGCU orchestrated its rally in the top half of the seventh with two outs staring the Eagles down.

The Green and Blue manufactured three-straight singles culminating with Erica Ward (Jacksonville, Fla./Trinity Christian Academy/Seminole State College)'s base hit tying the contest at 2-2. One batter later, pinch-hitter Ashley Biddle (Trenton, Fla./Trenton HS) reached on a Mountain Hawk fielding miscue bringing in the go-ahead run, allowing Kelly to step up as she laced another RBI single for the 4-2 margin.

Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS), who stepped into the circle in the sixth retired the side in the seventh to complete the comeback victory. She picks up her second win of the season (2-0). Starting pitcher Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) tossed five innings, allowing two runs (one earned) while striking out four batters and scattered seven hits.

FGCU produced eight hits with Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) and Kelly recording two apiece.

UP NEXT
FGCU will close out the tournament tomorrow against Princeton at 11:15 a.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 596-303-3 (.660) 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.