CLEARWATER, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (22-4) ran its winning streak to nine games Friday evening claiming a pair of 2-1 victories over Tennessee Chattanooga (13-15) and St. Joseph's (8-9) on day one of the Clearwater Invitational at the Eddie C. Moore Complex.

"We were undermanned today and I thought our kids did a fabulous job of toughing it out," said head coach David Deiros. "A couple of really close games under some really difficult circumstances, I couldn't be any more proud. Our pitching staff was exceptional, our defense did a really good job and we came up with a couple of timely hits when we needed them. We're back at it tomorrow still with a chance to win the tournament. That's what we tried to set ourselves up on day one and we're looking forward to our two games tomorrow."

Runs were at a premium in both games as the Eagles trailed in game one against UTC 1-0 until the top of the sixth highlighted by an RBI double from Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School). In game two versus SJU, FGCU struck in their first batting sequence but would soon see the contest tied in the fourth until an error in the final inning gave FGCU the walk-off triumph.

FGCU 2, UTC 1
The Mocs jumped on the board first plating one run across using an RBI double from Devan Brown in the bottom of the second for the 1-0 lead.

FGCU struggled to get the offense going leading up to the sixth, stranding two on the bases while collecting two hits. Meanwhile, Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) neutralized UTC after giving up the run, retiring the side in the fourth, then escaped a jam with a runner on third fanning one batter and induced a pop fly to end the threat.

In the sixth, Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) ignited the Eagles with a leadoff infield single. Shortly after, Fournet belted a double to left-center tying the contest. Two batters later with Fournet on third, junior Brooke Clemens skied a ball to center bringing in Fournet, whose slide just beat the throw for the 2-1 advantage.

Randolph exited the circle after 5.1 innings as Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS) was called upon in the sixth for the four-out save opportunity. The newcomer would surrender just one hit before ending the frame and completed the task in the seventh retiring the side to claim the 2-1 victory.

Randolph moves to 9-2 this season while Bauman snagged her NCAA-leading 13th save of the season, just two shy now of tying the NCAA single-season record.

FGCU 2, SJU 1
In its final game of the evening, FGCU made sure it struck first pushing one run across in the bottom of the first. Facing no outs and runners on the corners, Bri Bennett (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin HS/Lake Sumter)  tapped a grounder to the shortstop allowing Huff to race down 60 feet for the tally. The Eagles led 1-0, stranding just one on three hits.

SJU broke through in the fourth inning and tied the contest at one using one hit and one error to climb back into the mix.

Over the next three innings, FGCU produced two of the three hits combined from both squads as they battled with the sense of extra innings looming.

After the Mountain Hawks went down in order in the seventh, Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, Fla./North Ft. Myers/Seminole State)  kept FGCU's inning alive with a two-out single. She then advanced to second on Huff's fielder's choice bringing up Fournet. Ahead 3-1 in the count, the junior skied a deep fly ball to center which was dropped by the center fielder, allowing Kelly to score from second, giving FGCU a walk-off 2-1 victory.

Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter HS) tossed 5.1 innings scattering three hits, while allowing one run to go along with three strikeouts. Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) collects the win, bumping her record to 4-1 after 1.2 innings of work.  In total, FGCU produced seven hits on offense led by Kelly with two.

UP NEXT
FGCU is back tomorrow facing Maine at 2:30 p.m. followed by Lehigh at 4:45 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 595-302-3 (.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.