CLEARWATER, FL – The FGCU softball team (13-12) fell in a 3-2 contest to North Dakota State University (NDSU) (18-11), in its final match of the USF Tournament Sunday afternoon at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
In the process, senior
Racquel Fournet (Windermere, FL./Windermere Preparatory School) registered her 200th career hit with the Green and Blue (one of seven players) in her first at-bat of the game. She is now the only Eagle to record 200 hits and have at least 50 doubles (54).
"Today was a close game against a very good North Dakota State team," said head coach
David Deiros. "We had our opportunities at the plate, but we just couldn't come up with the big hit to put us ahead. These are the type of close competitive contests that we want to be in as we head into conference play soon so we'll continue to learn and move forward. Also, congratulations to Racquel for her milestone hit today. It was great to see her join a list of select players to have reached that mark and I'm looking forward to seeing how the rest of her senior campaign unfolds."
Senior
Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, FL./Seminole State College) quickly got the wheels started for the offense with a leadoff single down the left field line and promptly stole second on a strikeout. With one out, Fournet recorded her 200th career hit with a liner up the middle, bringing Kelly around from second for the 1-0 score. FGCU held NDSU scoreless in the bottom half and pushed across another runner in the top of the second.
A walk from junior
Mikenzie Vaughn (Kennesaw, GA./Florida Southwestern) and single from freshman
McKenna Batterton (Norco, CA./Eleanor Roosevelt HS) placed runners on first and second. Three batters later with two away, Kelly delivered an RBI double down the left field line to give FGCU a 2-0 lead. NDSU hung around and struck with a three-run third on three hits and one error.
It proved to be enough for the Bison as the Eagles stranded two runners over the next four innings, registering one walk (fourth inning) and a hit in the final frame.
Sophomore
Morgan White (Ocala, FL./Forest HS) moves to 1-2 in the losing effort, tossing six innings while scattering seven hits. Kelly finished her day going 3-for-4 with one RBI.
Most Hits All-Time
1. 295 – Cheyenne Jenks - 2006-09
2. 244 –
Kelsey Huff - 2015-18
3. 239 – Kelsey Carpenter - 2012-15
239 – Jessica Gary - 2007-10
5. 228 – Ashley Cecil - 2003-05
6. 204 – Courtney Platt - 2008-11
7. 200 – Racquel Fournet - 2016-19
8. 192 – Christine Beck - 2003-06
9. 181 – Jessica Barnes - 2011-14
10. 180 – Jessica Rouse - 2004-07
Up Next
FGCU returns home Tuesday to face Monmouth (11-8) in a doubleheader with the first game slated for a 5 p.m. The Hawks went 32-16 last season, earning an NCAA Regional berth after capturing their first conference championship out of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC).
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 624-326-3 (.657), going 139-84 (.623) in the ASUN, having 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.
#FEEDFGCU
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.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 75 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 34 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the Spring, 2018 and had an ASUN Conference and State of Florida best five teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
