FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (17-15, 3-3 ASUN) fell in its series finale against Liberty (23-13, 6-3 ASUN), 2-0, Sunday afternoon at the FGCU Softball Complex.
"The result isn't what we wanted, but the actual process and the set of games against really good competition is exactly what we wanted," said head coach
David Deiros. "All three games were decided in quick little instances, one play here, and another there. They made one more big play in each of the three games. We left runners on base and had our opportunities, it's just a matter of being able to execute and that's what it came down to."
FGCU registered its first hit in the bottom of the third and had a prime opportunity in the very next inning to strike. Facing two outs, senior
Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, FL./Florida) singled to center as junior
Mikenzie Vaughn (Kennesaw, GA./Florida Southwestern) was plunked to put runners on. They would advance on a wild pitch but a fly out to left capped off the frame.
Liberty broke up the scoreless affair in the sixth using three hits to produce its pair of runs. The Eagles once again threatened, this time in the bottom of the sixth. Base hits from freshman
Reedy Davenport (St. Johns, FL./Bartram Trail HS) and Vaughn got things going as they soon advanced to second and third on another wild pitch before a swinging strikeout ended the inning.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles' side was retired as they narrowly fell to the Flames, 2-0.
Starting senior pitcher
Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, FL./Northeast HS) suffers her sixth loss of the season (13-6), striking out eight batters in the process while scattering six hits in her 6.1 innings of work. Senior
Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, FL./Seminole State College) finished her day at the dish going 2-for-4.
Up Next
FGCU will welcome cross-town rival FAU (15-17, 3-5 C-USA) for a doubleheader starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Apr. 3. Both teams met earlier in the season (Feb. 23) in which the Eagles fell to the Owls, 8-3.
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 627-329-3 (.657), going 142-87 (.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.
