LOS ANGELES – The FGCU softball team (18-4) blanked the hosts LMU Lions (10-11-1) in game one 5-0 and completed the comeback win against Providence (3-13) claiming a 3-2 win behind
LuLu Newmark's home run in the seventh inning at Smith Field Thursday evening.
"Outstanding job by our entire team," said head coach
David Deiros. "We were able to use all facets in order to secure the wins. Preparing to get one step closer to being the tournament champions."
In game one against the hosts, FGCU used a pair of two-run innings to push past the Lions 5-0. In the nightcap match, the Friars led from the start until the final inning where
Newmark's (Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage HS/Bowling Green) heroics helped FGCU complete the day one sweep and lead the Eagles to their fifth-straight win.
GAME ONE: FGCU 5, LMU 0
FGCU wasted no time and quickly led 2-0 after the first frame. With one out,
Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) drew a walk, setting up
Bri Bennett (Jacksonville, Fla./Mandarin HS/Lake Sumter) who would bring in her in with a double to left center. One batter later,
Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, Fla./Lemon Bay HS/Florida) laced a base hit over to left pushing Bennett across home plate.
In the fourth inning,
Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) led off with a single up the middle and after a strikeout, senior
Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) connected on her third triple of the season to center field giving FGCU 3-0 advantage. The bats remained alive as
Farley Callaghan (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) skied a fly ball to left field, allowing Swiderski to tag from 60 feet.
The aggressive play for FGCU continued in the final inning with
Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, Fla./North Ft. Myers/Seminole State) reaching on a single and swiping second. After a bunt single from
Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) advanced Kelly to third, Bennett roped a liner up the middle plating Kelly across for the 5-0 lead.
For the second consecutive outing,
Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) was dominant in the circle going six innings while surrendering three hits and no runs. The junior now bumps her record to 7-2.
The Eagles' bats produced 10 hits against the Lions led by Bennett who propelled the offense going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run.
GAME TWO: FGCU 3, PROVIDENCE 2
Runs were at a premium to begin with as Providence collected two runs on three hits and one error to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom half of the first.
After the first, the Eagles struggled to get their bats going, manufacturing just three hits while stranding three runners before the seventh inning in which the perseverance of FGCU prevailed.
McGuire led off the inning with a single as
Emily Demurias (Miami, Fla./Killian HS) would come in as a runner and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a fly out, Newmark stepped up to the plate and scalded her second home run of the season to left field tying the contest at 2-2. FGCU would plate one more runner across the inning using a double steal for its first lead of the game 3-2.
Looking to come in and slam the door for the 11th time this season was freshman
Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS) and she did just that. After recording the first two outs, the Friars threatened with a double but it did not faze Bauman as she forced a grounder right back to the circle to secure the 3-2 comeback triumph.
In the process,
Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) collects the win and moves to 3-1 this season. It also becomes Bauman's 11th save in just 21 games.
UP NEXT
FGCU will start the day facing Providence at 11 a.m. followed by Southern Utah at 1:30 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 591-302-3 (.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.
