SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The FGCU softball team (16-4) limited UCSB (8-14) to two runs on the day claiming game one 2-0 and completed the sweep in a 3-2 victory Wednesday afternoon at Campus Diamond Stadium.
 
"A couple of tough wins today," said head coach David Deiros. "We did enough offensively to back up fantastic work by our pitching staff. Congratulations to Riley for another shutout in game one, Taylor for another two saves, and Haley's first collegiate hit, a game-winning dinger."

Both games were kept tight on the board as neither team would score until after three innings. In game one, Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) collected her first of two RBIs in the fourth to give FGCU the lead and then added insurance in the sixth. In game two, both squads responded with two runs apiece in the fourth but Haley Morrell (Tampa, Fla./Academy of Holy Names) would lead off the fifth with a blast to center as it proved to be the game-winning run in the 3-2 final.

GAME ONE: FGCU 2, UCSB 0
In the top half of the fourth, Bri Bennett (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin HS/Lake Sumter) led off the inning with a single to left as Emily Demurias would replace her as a runner. Two batters later, Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) roped a base hit to left placing Demurias in scoring position as Swiderski stepped in and laced a single to right center to give FGCU its first lead, 1-0.

Looking to tack on the extra insurance, the Eagles offense opened up the sixth frame with a leadoff double by junior Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, Fla./Lemon Bay HS/Florida). After Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) ran for Clemens, McGuire's successful sacrifice bunt moved her over to third. Shortly after, Swiderski went ahead and laid down another bunt, reaching on a fielder's choice, despite being thrown at short, it gave Innamorato enough time to cross home plate.

In the circle Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) kept the Gauchos' at bay, yielding the home side's first hit in the fourth inning. Then after 6.1 innings, Randolph exited the circle surrendering four hits while fanning five batters. Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS) entered the seventh with the bases loaded and proceeded to slam the door on the Gauchos forcing a pop fly and a grounder to home as the Eagles secured the game one shutout, 2-0.

It becomes save No. 9 for Bauman and with the win, Randolph moves to 6-2 on the year. Clemens went 2-for-3 at the dish while Swiderski picked up the two RBI.

GAME TWO: FGCU 3, UCSB 2
Similar to game two, the scoring did not break out until the fourth inning. Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS)  sparked the offense with a leadoff single as a sacrifice bunt from Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, Fla./North Ft. Myers/Seminole State) moved her into scoring position. Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School)  soon stepped up and scalded her fourth double of the season, putting FGCU up 1-0.

After Fournet stole third, McGuire's RBI single through the left side pushed the Green and Blue's lead to 2-0. It was short-lived as the Gauchos responded in their top half with a two-run homer to tie the ballgame.

The following inning, the Eagles struck back in a hurry. Morrell, who was 0-2 at the time and hitless in in her collegiate career, launched a lead-off home run to center field to put FGCU back on top 3-2.

Starting pitcher Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) went three innings scattering four hits and allowed two runs. Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter HS) took over tossing two innings giving up no hits as Bauman started off the sixth en route to the six-out save opportunity, escaping the final inning with two runners on board.

Mesiemore was credited with the win and now moves to 7-1 while Bauman reached double-digit saves with 10 in a matter of 20 games.

In total, the FGCU offense recorded seven hits led by Fournet with two as three different Eagles recorded an RBI apiece.

UP NEXT
FGCU will kick off its first game of the Loyola Marymount Tournament tomorrow against the hosts LMU at 4:30 p.m. EST followed by the nightcap game versus Providence at 7 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 589-302-3 (.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.