SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Fighting all the way to the end, the RV FGCU softball team (28-9, 3-3 ASUN) snapped its 10-game losing skid to RV USC Upstate (24-13, 5-4 ASUN) scoring two runs in the seventh thanks to a pinch-hit home run from senior Brittany McGuire.

"Great job by our team to salvage the series with the game three win," said head coach David Deiros. "We played very well and just overcame some seeing-eye bloopers with some clutch hitting of our own. Everyone who came to the plate in the seventh had strong at-bats. Special kudos to our pitching staff who combined to pitch a tremendous game."

Trailing 2-0 after three innings played, ASUN reigning Player of the Week Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) tied the contest 2-2 blasting an opposite-field home run to left in the fourth – her fifth one of the season. Upstate answered quickly with a run in their respective half to go up 3-2. Facing two outs, McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) was called on to pinch hit and drove the first pitch she saw out of Cyrill Stadium en route to the 4-3 final.  

In the bottom of the first, the Spartan's Brittany Case smacked a blooper down the left field line just where the dirt and outfield meet to push two runners across for the 2-0 advantage.  

FGCU's bats were stifled going without a hit until the top of the fourth. After Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) reached on an error and swiped her 17th base of the year, Fournet drilled the Eagles first hit over the left-field wall, tying the contest 2-2.

Upstate responded in its bottom half placing two runners on after a hit by pitch was called as Kendsey Chappelear's RBI bloop single up the middle gave the home side a 3-2 lead.

The Eagles were retired in order over the next two innings but were in business in the final frame with two outs. Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, Fla./Lemon Bay HS/Florida) kept the inning alive lacing a double down the left-field line. One batter later, McGuire was called on as a pinch hitter and without hesitation, launched her third homer of the season to left-center.

Looking to shut the door, Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS) entered the circle and worked around a single and a walk to secure the elusive out, giving her 14 saves – just one save shy of tying the NCAA single-single record.

Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter HS) picks up the win after relieving Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) who went 5.1 innings, surrendering four hits, three runs and struck out three.   

UP NEXT  
FGCU returns home for a doubleheader on Wednesday, Apr. 4 to face in-state foe FIU (17-20, 3-5 C-USA) starting at 4 p.m. The Panthers last season were at-large selection into the NCAA Tournament.   

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 601-307-3 (.665) 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.