NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a top-4 battle of the ASUN standings, the FGCU softball team (34-15, 8-6 ASUN) came out on top in game one over Lipscomb (31-14, 9-7 ASUN) 1-0 behind Riley Randolph's complete game but faltered in game two 9-1 to split the opening pair Saturday night at Draper Diamond.

Runs were at a premium in game one as both teams were scoreless after five played until the Eagles scratched a run in the sixth off a fielder's choice to make it 1-0 behind Randolph's (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) complete outing. In game two, the home side struck back facing a 1-0 deficit with a three-run third and eventually a four-run sixth to end game two in six innings.

GAME ONE: FGCU 1, LIPSCOMB 0
The Bisons threatened in each of their bottom halves in the second and third, putting a runner in scoring position each but came away empty-handed. Up to this point, the Eagle's bats were kept in check by Mandy Jordan until Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) registered FGCU's first knock with a double to left-center but the junior would be stranded.

Meanwhile, Randolph was locked in and kept the Bisons neutralized, fanning six batters through four innings, escaping a jam in the fifth which saw Lipscomb place runners on the corners.

In the top of the sixth, a walk and a passed ball allowed pinch-runner Emily Demurias (Miami, Fla./Killian HS) to advance to second as Fournet's knock kept the inning going. With Eagles now on each corner and one away, Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS)  grounded a high chopper to short forcing the out at second as she beat the throw over to first to bring in Demurias.  

Looking to close it out in the seventh, a one-triple from Graysen Gladden put the 1-0 FGCU lead in jeopardy. Unfazed, Randolph induced an infield pop fly and shut the door with her ninth strikeout of the game to secure the 1-0 triumph.

In her seventh complete game of the season, Randolph moves to 14-6 on the year, surrendering just five hits.

GAME TWO: FGCU 1, LIPSCOMB 9
In the nightcap, it was the Eagles who scratched the board first plating one across in the top of the second. After a walk and a single with two away, Kelsey Huff (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla./Dwyer HS) smacked a base hit up the middle to score Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, Fla./North Ft. Myers/Seminole State).

FGCU held on to the 1-0 margin after two and a half played before Lipscomb responded with a three-run third, producing four hits. In their next bottom half, the Bisons added to the lead plating two more while connecting once again on four hits going up 5-1.

Over the next two innings for the Green and Blue, the squad would strand three Eagles on the bags as Lipscomb capped off the game early after scoring four in the sixth in the 9-1 run-rule victory.

Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter HS) suffers the loss and now moves to 10-4. On offense, the Eagles tallied six hits, as Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) and Fournet each finished 2-for-3, respectively.  

UP NEXT
FGCU will look to take the rubber match tomorrow at 1 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 607-313-3 (.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.