FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (2-0), who is receiving votes, capped off day one of the FGCU Kickoff Classic shutting out Kent State (1-1) 2-0, while knocking off Penn State (1-1) 2-1 in Friday's nightcap.
"Two nice wins today," said head coach
David Deiros. "We're the only undefeated team in the Kickoff Classic and it's a great feeling to control one's destiny. Looking forward to competing again tomorrow."
FGCU used a pair complete outings from
Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) and
Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter HS) to walk away undefeated on day one. Behind Riley's seven strikeouts and just one walk, the Eagles were able to tack on runs in the bottom halves of the second and fifth frames en route to the 2-0 victory. In game two, the Eagles rallied after trailing after one inning, answering back in the second as
Farley Callaghan (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) drove in the go-ahead run in the fifth stanza.
Game One: FGCU 2, Kent State 0
FGCU struck first in the bottom of the second frame as senior
Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, Fla./Lemon Bay HS/Florida) led off the inning with a single. She would advance on a wild pitch, setting up
Kyleigh Taylor (DeLand, Fla./DeLand HS) for the sacrifice bunt which Clemens over to third. Two batters later, newcomer
Mikenzie Vaughn (Kennesaw, Ga./Harrison High School/Florida Southwestern) drove a 2-2 pitch up the middle to give FGCU a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, another newcomer in
Morgan Greco (Winter Springs, Fla./Oviedo HS/Indian River State) got things going for the Eagles with a pinch-hit single through the left side. A sacrifice bunt from Callaghan and a passed ball would allow Greco to reach third. Facing one out, freshman
Reedy Davenport (St. Johns, Fla./Bartram Trail HS) skied one to deep center as Greco tagged up from third for the 2-0 lead.
Kent State would strand just one runner over the final two innings as Randolph picked up her first win of the season, maneuvering through the Flashes' offense in just 85 pitches.
Game Two: FGCU 2, Penn State 1
The Green and Blue trailed 1-0 after one frame but would answer quickly in the second. Junior transfer
Marcella Parrado (Tampa, Fla./Leto HS/College of Central Florida) gave the lineup a spark lacing a one-out triple down the right-field line. One batter later, Callaghan produced one of her two RBI on the night as the sophomore brought in Parrado on a sacrifice fly to center. Tied 1-1 over the next two innings, it was Parrado once again producing a big at-bat, this time a leadoff triple to the same right field line.
Up next, Callaghan came through with her second RBI, laying down a perfect bunt single that trickled down the first base line. The 2-1 margin would be enough for Mesiemore, who fanned three batters in the final two innings to come away with the win. All said the Bushnell native tossed 76 pitches, yielding one earned run on six hits, finishing with seven strikeouts.
Up Next
FGCU Faces LIU Brooklyn (0-2) Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm, followed by Ball State (1-1) at 7 pm.
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 17th season as head coach. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to a 614-314-3 (.665) overall mark, 13 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 raise awareness.
