DELAND, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (39-15) jumped ahead early and never looked back using three home runs – the second-most in an ASUN Championship Game – to take down No. 3 USC Upstate (32-18), 6-1. In the process, the Eagles snapped the Spartans' 10-game ASUN Championship win streak and will move on into the winner's bracket final tomorrow afternoon at 12:30 p.m. against top-ranked Kennesaw State who is also receiving votes. 

"Great job today by our entire team," stated head coach David Deiros. "Riley showed lots of guts in the circle and Brittany, Haley and Bri had some great swings."

FGCU got out in front in the bottom of the second when Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) rocketed a line drive shot out of the park to straightaway center as Haley Morrell (Tampa, Fla./Academy of Holy Names) tacked on an RBI double to make it 2-0. Two innings later, Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) broke open the ball game with a three-run jack into the palm trees in left field while Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, Fla./Lemon Bay HS/Florida) capped off the scoring with a solo shot to left in the 6-1 victory.

It was a rough start for Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) who faced some trouble in the first frame allowing two Spartans to reach on second and third, but the lefty would maneuver around the jam forcing a foul out to third and a strikeout to end the early threat.

Looking to capitalize early, the Eagles did just that when McGuire laced her fourth homer of the year to the center field camera platform. After an error and an Innamorato walk put two runners on for FGCU, Morrell drove a double through the right-center gap scoring in Ashley Swiderski (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) as Innamorato would be thrown out at home on the play.

Meanwhile, Randolph continued to work, keeping the Spartans hitless through four innings, while fanning three and at one point retiring 10 straight batters. The junior would continue to get support on offense in the bottom of the fourth. After a base hit from McGuire and a walk from Clemens got things going for FGCU, Innamorato blasted a 1-1 pitch to left field making it 5-0. It was the senior's fourth homer of the season.

In the top of the sixth, USC Upstate collected its first run of the afternoon on an unearned run after Kristen Wright reached on an error and later stole home on a double-steal attempt.

With still some power to show, Clemens solidified the scoring hitting a solo homer to left in the bottom of the sixth as the Eagles moved on to the winner's bracket final with a 6-1 triumph.

Randolph moves to 18-6 – tying her season-high 18 wins last year – scattering three hits and striking out six Spartans in her 10th complete outing of the season. Innamorato ended the contest 1-for-2 with three RBI while McGuire went 2-for-3 with one RBI.

UP NEXT
As mentioned above, FGCU will face off against the top-seeded Kennesaw State Owls tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., in the winner's bracket final. The Eagles will be looking to advance to their third-straight ASUN Championship final with a win.

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 612-313-3 (.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.