JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Originally set for a 1 p.m. start, due to rain in the area the first of two games did not start until 7:30 p.m. That did not deter the FGCU softball team (32-14, 6-5 ASUN) as the Eagles swept Jacksonville (23-23, 4-6 ASUN) shutting out the home side 6-0 in game one, followed by a 6-5 comeback win in the nightcap.

"Our entire team – pitchers, catchers, defenders, hitters, coaches, and trainer did a great job staying engaged and with our plan," said head coach David Deiros.

In game one, the Eagles used a three-run first to surge past the Dolphins, scoring a pair in the third and once more in the sixth en route to the shutout. In the nightcap, FGCU trailed 1-0 all the way up until the fifth where it scored five runs, only to have JU answer with four in its half to tie it. In the top of the seventh, Ashley Swiderski would triple with a runner on to secure the sweep and 6-5 triumph.

GAME ONE: FGCU 6, JU 0
Right out of the gates, Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS)  brought in the first run of the game in the first inning with her RBI double to left-center. After a single put runners on the corner, Swiderski would score on a wild pitch and Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, Fla./Lemon Bay HS/Florida) capped the scoring with a sac fly to left field.

Leading 3-0, Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS)  kept the inning alive with two outs hitting a double to right as she would come around to score on a Clemens' single. Farley Callaghan (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS)  then produced an RBI single of her own scoring in Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast HS) who reached on with a hit by pitch.

It was more than enough run support for Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) who dominated in the circle. The junior surrender only two hits while fanning five batters in her sixth complete game of the season. She now moves her record to 13-6.

The Green and Blue plated one more across in the sixth cruising to the final score of 6-0, proving to be the seventh time this year FGCU has shutout an opponent.

The FGCU offense totaled 10 hits as three Eagles each recorded two hits apiece.

GAME TWO: FGCU 6, JU 5
This time around in game two the Dolphins jumped on the board first plating one across in the bottom of the first to take a 1-0 margin. Up until the fifth frame, FGCU stranded three on the bases, before exploding with five runs on six hits in the top of the fifth.

Facing two outs, back-to-back singles got FGCU business. Soon after, Swiderski doubled to bring in two. Not over quite yet, McGuire and Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School)  followed suit and connected on doubles of their own, each scoring a run in as Clemens ended the five-run frame lacing an RBI single to second.

Now trailing 5-1, the Dolphins were unfazed and answered back in their own half using four hits, and one error to knot the contest 5-5.

Both squads came up empty in the sixth, but FGCU in the seventh used a leadoff walk in which Swiderski then roped an RBI triple for the 6-5 lead.

Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) gets credited with the win and moves to 7-2 in her 0.2 innings while Randolph registers her first save of the year, tossing the final inning.

Swiderski ended the night at the dish going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored.

UP NEXT
FGCU will look to take the final game tomorrow at 11 a.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 605-312-3 (.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.