KENNESAW, Ga. – The FGCU softball team (16-12, 2-0 ASUN) collected two wins over the reigning ASUN regular season and tournament champion Kennesaw State (17-16, 2-3 ASUN) with scores of 4-3 (nine innings) and 5-2, Saturday afternoon at Bailey Park.
"It's always tough to win on the road, let alone win the series on day one," said head coach
David Deiros. "It was a great team win as we played well in all facets. We'll get some much-needed rest tonight and get back after it tomorrow."
FGCU 4 | KSU 3 (nine innings)
The Eagles offense came out of the gates right from the beginning. Senior
Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, FL./Seminole State College) started the first with a single as sophomore
Haley Morrell (Tampa, FL./Academy of Holy Names) launched a two-run blast to center in the very next at-bat, her third of the season.
In the very next inning, junior
Mikenzie Vaughn (Kennesaw, GA./Florida Southwestern)
made it 3-0 with her first home run of the year, a solo shot to left center in her return back to her hometown. KSU though, hung around, scoring a run in the third, fourth and fifth inning to tie the contest 3-3.
Leading up to the eighth the bats were quiet for the Eagles as they left just two runners on the bags until scoring in the ninth. With one away, Vaughn singled down the left field line to get things going. Following a strikeout, sophomore
Farley Callaghan (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL./Ponte Vedra HS) drove a 1-1 pitch to right center, scoring Vaughn all the way from first.
Starting senior pitcher
Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, FL./Northeast HS) put the Owls away in the bottom of the ninth, maneuvering through KSU's 8-9-1 hitters with 13 pitches to move to 12-5 overall. Vaughn capped off game one going 2-for-4 with one RBI while Morrell finished 2-for-4 adding a pair of RBI.
FGCU 5 | KSU 2
Just like in game one, FGCU posted a two-run first for the quick lead. Senior
Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, FL./Florida) loaded the bases after the inning's second walk (Morrell) and a single from freshman
Reedy Davenport (St. Johns, FL./Bartram Trail HS).
Vaughn then dug in and laced a two-run RBI single to right for the 2-0 margin. KSU would answer in its bottom half of the second with one run on three hits.
The Eagles pushed their lead to back to two, bringing one run in the sixth. Sophomore
Ahnie Jumper (Clewiston, FL./Plantation American Heritage) led the frame with a walk and moved over to second on a sac bunt from Callaghan. A chopper to second moved her to third as Kelly brought her home on an infield hit to third.
KSU inched closer, responding with a run in the bottom of the sixth but the insurance from the Eagles came off the bat of Davenport in the seventh. Senior
Racquel Fournet (Windermere, FL./Windermere Preparatory School) singled with one out, as Davenport capped off the scoring with her fourth home run of the year to give FGCU a 5-2 advantage.
The Owls got one hit in their final frame facing two out but a foul pop fly caught by Davenport secured the sweep for the Green and Blue and series. Starting sophomore pitcher
Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, FL./South Sumter HS) collected her second complete game of the season and third win of the year (3-4).
Davenport and Vaughn each recorded two hits along with two RBI apiece.
Up Next
FGCU will go for the three-game sweep Sunday afternoon 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 17th season as head coach. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to a 626-326-3 (.657), going 141-84 (.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 35 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.
