TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (14-4) came away victorious in a tightly contested battle with Hofstra (10-7), claiming a 3-2 win in its final game of the FSU Unconquered Invitational Sunday morning.
 
"Another tight game and we were able to come through because of a whole team effort," commented head coach David Deiros. "We will use the successes and lessons from this challenging tournament as a springboard to our week-long road trip to California."

FGCU faced a 1-0 deficit after one inning before Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) launched her first homer of the year in the second inning to knot the affair 1-1, as a pair of RBI doubles in the same frame would give the Eagles a 3-1 margin. Leading up to the triumph, each member of the Eagles' pitching staff saw action in the circle to help preserve the one-run game.

The Pride struck first using an RBI single through the right side for the 1-0 advantage early on in the bottom half of the first. It was a short-lived lead for the designated home team as the Eagles responded quickly in the second, thanks in part to McGuire lacing a solo shot to left making it a 1-1 contest.

Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) kept the inning alive roping a one-out single to left, as Farley Callaghan (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) gave FGCU its first lead of the game, lining an RBI double down the left field line. Facing two outs, Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS)  kept the offense going, this time using the right field line for her first double of the year to plate another Eagle across for the 3-1 advantage.

Starting pitcher Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter HS) exited the circle after tossing three innings, allowing just three hits and one earned run. Over the next four frames, the trio of Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS), Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) and Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS) would limit Hofstra to just four hits combined while striking out six members of The Pride, surrendering one run, en route to preserving the 3-2 victory.

Bauman entered the circle in the bottom of the sixth as the newcomer collected the four-out save opportunity, her eighth save of the year. White (2-1) was credited with the win in her one inning of work, scattering one hit.

UP NEXT
FGCU will continue its road trip heading first to Santa Barbara, Calif., for a doubleheader against UCSB (8-12) on Mar. 7 starting at 4 p.m. ET. The Eagles then travel to Los Angeles to participate in the Loyola Marymount Tournament from Mar. 8-10.

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 587-302-3 (.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.