NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Playing in its second nine-inning game of the season, the FGCU softball team (35-15, 9-6 ASUN) took game three from Lipscomb (31-15, 9-8 ASUN) by a score of 2-1 to take the series Sunday afternoon at Draper Diamond.

 "Gutsy series win for our team," stated head coach David Deiros. "Riley fought all day to keep us in it and Morgan closed the door in style in the ninth."

With the win, Deiros has now compiled nine campaigns of 35 wins or more with the Green and Blue.

Trailing 1-0 with one last opportunity at the plate, Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) doubled to left-center to send the game into extras. From there, the Eagles struck again in the top of the ninth producing three hits highlighted by LuLu Newmark (Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage HS/Bowling Green) knocking one into left field for the eventual game-winning RBI.

In the circle, Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) maneuvered around two jams in the early stages as the Bisons left the bases loaded twice in the first and second. The FGCU bats' were held in check by Mandy Jordan, registering one hit through six innings. In the bottom of the sixth, Lipscomb tallied the first run of the game with a solo blast from Khayla Green.

Looking to capitalize on one last chance, the Eagles did just that when Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) drew a leadoff walk in the seventh. Emily Demurias (Miami, Fla./Killian HS) would come into pinch-run for Fournet and later advance to second on a sac bunt. This allowed McGuire to rope a double to left-center for the tie – the senior's first hit of the contest.

Over the next two innings, Randolph kept the Bisons at bay allowing just two hits before FGCU took its first lead in the ninth. In that frame. Fournet doubled with one out as the Green and Blue loaded the bases with a walk and single. With two outs, Newmark knocked one into left field scoring the Eagle's second run for the 2-1 lead.

After her eight innings of work, and longest outing of the season, Randolph (15-6) exited the circle and Morgan White (Ocala, Fla./Forest HS) entered. The sophomore earned her first save of the season inducing a pop fly along with two strikeouts to give FGCU the 2-1 triumph and the series.

Fournet finished her afternoon going 2-for-2 with two walks and a double with McGuire and Newmark each registering an RBI apiece.

UP NEXT
FGCU returns home May 4-5 hosting UNF (24-27, 4-11 ASUN) for a doubleheader starting Friday at 5 p.m. Saturday before the game's first pitch, the Eagles will honor its eight graduating seniors.  

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 608-313-3 (.665) overall mark, 12 seasons with a winning record, and nine 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.