FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (22-16, 7-3 ASUN) defeated Jacksonville (13-27, 1-9 ASUN) by a score of 3-2 Saturday afternoon at the FGCU Softball Complex. Due to rain following game one, both teams will play a doubleheader Sunday morning beginning at 11 a.m.

"Riley [Randolph] was great in the circle today keeping the Jacksonville bats' at bay," head coach David Deiros said. "We had some great timely hitting today from Kate [Kelly], Racquel [Fournet], and Brooke [Clemens] in the sixth to put us in front. Overall good performance and we're looking forward to tomorrow's doubleheader."

It was a pitcher's duel early on as FGCU registered one hit through four frames. Meanwhile, in the circle, Randolph struck out the first six batters she faced. In the process, she produced a new career single-season high in the first with her 161st strikeout of the season, a mark she set back in 2017 (160). 

FGCU's offense began to turn its wheels in the bottom of the sixth. Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, FL./Seminole State College) ripped a leadoff double through the right side for her second hit of the game. Two batters later, Fournet (Windermere, FL./Windermere Preparatory School) plated Kelly home on a single down the right-field line. Sammi Poehlman (Ormond Beach, FL./Daytona State) ran for Fournet as Reedy Davenport (St. Johns, FL./Bartram Trail HS) stepped in and produced an infield hit to put runners on the corners. Ashley Hayes (Naples, FL./Barron Collier HS) would run for Davenport and steal second.

Facing runners now in scoring position, Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, FL./Florida) connected on a double to score both runners for the 3-1 lead.

Jacksonville tacked on a run in the top of the seventh and had runners on the corners with two away but a pop fly to right sealed the win for the Green and Blue.

Randolph moved to 14-7 as she fanned eight Dolphins while scattering three hits in her 16th complete outing of the year.

Up Next
FGCU will play its doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m. Game two is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.

ASUN Championship
FGCU will play host to the 2019 ASUN Softball Championship Wednesday-Saturday, May 8-11. This will mark the third time FGCU will serve as hosts for the tournament, the first time coming back in 2015. The winner of the event will earn the ASUN's automatic bid into the NCAA Championship tournament. Game times are to be determined but tickets can now be purchased here.

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 Eagles to a 632-330-3 (.657), going 146-87 (.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 76 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.