TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The #25 FGCU softball team (13-4) dropped a pair of decisions to top-15 opponents Saturday afternoon, falling 6-2 to #13 FSU (14-6) and then 5-1 to #6 Oregon (18-3) in the final game of day two of the FSU Unconquered Invitational.

"We played much better today than we did yesterday, but we still didn't get the job done," said head coach David Deiros. "If we want to beat top-15 teams in the country, our 'much better' has to get better. Looking forward to showing what we can do tomorrow."

Against the Seminoles, the Eagles found themselves in a 5-0 hole before posting two runs in the sixth en route to a 6-2 final win by the hosts. In the nightcap versus Oregon, both ball clubs were scoreless after two innings, until the Ducks broke out with a four-run third. Bri Bennett would provide FGCU's lone run off a solo homer in the fifth before the final score as the Eagles fell 5-1.

FGCU 2, FSU 6
The Seminoles did their damage in the first with two outs to jump in front 2-0 over FGCU by way of a solo homer and an RBI double. FSU ballooned its lead pushing a runner across in the third, followed by another homer, this time a two-run blast to give the Seminoles a 5-0 lead after five innings.

In the sixth, FGCU trimmed the deficit down to three runs, 5-2, producing two runs on four hits. After back-to-back singles got things rolling for FGCU, Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) tapped a bunt single to the pitcher to load the bases. Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) then plated FGCU's first run reaching on a fielder's choice to short, followed by Brooke Clemens' (West Rotunda, Fla./Lemon Bay HS/Florida) RBI single before two strikeouts ended the frame.

FSU responded with a run in the sixth, yielding only one hit in the final inning to take the final score of 6-2.

In total, FGCU was narrowly out-hit by FSU 8-7, but the Green and Blue would ultimately strand five on the bases. Fournet and Clemens led the squad with an RBI apiece.

Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter HS) was hit with her first loss of the season, moving to 6-1 while scattering five hits and allowing three runs.

FGCU 1, OREGON 5
Scoreless after two innings, Oregon took the lead in the third, 4-0, producing four runs on four hits including one defensive miscue.

FGCU's bats remained silent until the bottom half of the fifth when Bennett (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin HS/Lake Sumter) launched a lead-off homer to put the Eagles on the board, her first of the 2018 campaign. The Eagles threatened in the same frame putting runners in scoring position after Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) swiped second, but a pop fly would end the inning.

Oregon tacked on one more run in the sixth to go up 5-1, as FGCU was limited to one hit the rest of the way, falling to the Ducks in as many days.

In the circle, Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) scattered six hits in her 5.1 innings of work, fanning four batters while Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS) pitched 1.2 innings in relief, surrendering no hits.

FGCU manufactured five hits, led by Bennett with two.
 
UP NEXT
FGCU play its final game tomorrow at 9 a.m. against Hofstra (10-6) before heading up to Santa Barbara, Calif., to face UCSB for a doubleheader on Wednesday, March 7 at 4 p.m. ET. 

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 586-302-3 (.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.