FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (24-16, 9-3 ASUN) gained pivotal ground in the ASUN standings moving into sole possession of second place, taking down Jacksonville (13-29, 1-11 ASUN) by scores of 7-1 and 7-2, Sunday afternoon.
"I'm really proud of what our kids did today because we were great against their entire [pitching] staff," said head coach
David Deiros. "It didn't matter if it was their No. 1, No. 2 or No. 3 pitcher, our team did an awesome job. It's a sign that we're starting to figure out that we have to plan ahead, make adjustments and get after it on who we face."
FGCU 7 | JU 1
The Eagles used a fifth-run second frame to pull away early against the Dolphins. Freshman
Reedy Davenport (St. Johns, FL./Bartram Trail HS) doubled to left to get the inning started as senior
Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, FL./Florida) reached on a fielder's choice to first to put runners on the corners. Up next, junior
Mikenzie Vaughn (Kennesaw, GA./Florida Southwestern) roped one down the left-field line for the RBI. Sophomore
Farley Callaghan (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL./Ponte Vedra HS) plated Clemens home as she reached on a throwing error. Junior
Sammi Poehlman (Ormond Beach, FL./Daytona State)
then made it 3-0 with a grounder to first, scoring Vaughn.
Two batters later, Callaghan would score and freshman
McKenna Batterton (Norco, CA./Eleanor Roosevelt HS), who walked, moved to second on the same passed ball. Sophomore
Haley Morrell (Tampa, FL./Academy of Holy Names) capped off the frame with an RBI knock to left.
Both teams exchanged runs in the third with Clemens setting up the Eagles' sixth run. The senior singled to leadoff and raced to third one batter later on a throwing error from third. Sophomore
Ahnie Jumper (Clewiston, FL./Plantation American Heritage) came in and ran for her and later scored on a sac fly from Callaghan.
FGCU tacked its final run in the sixth. After Poehlman led off with her third triple of the season, freshman
Kacie Huber (Dade City, FL./Pasco HS) recorded her first collegiate hit and RBI as a pinch-hitter with a single through the right side.
Starting sophomore pitcher
Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, FL./South Sumter HS) tossed all seven frames and moved to 8-4 overall. She surrendered six hits while fanning seven batters.
FGCU 7 | JU 2
In game two, FGCU's crooked number arrived in the third, producing four runs on four hits and one error. Poehlman was once again in the mix, beginning the frame with a bunt single, moving to second on the throwing error from the pitcher. She then stole third as Batterton cleared the bags with a triple to right-center field. The freshman scored two batters later off a single from Morrell. At the same time senior
Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, FL./Seminole State College) sprinted to third after reaching on a fielder's choice then second on a wild pitch.
Fournet immediately dug in and drove a 0-1 pitch to left-center for the 4-0 margin, a two-run double. Her third RBI came in the fifth inning, a single to left that scored Kelly.
After JU added two runs in the top of the sixth, FGCU responded with a pair of its own. Callaghan laced a stand-up leadoff double to center and scored two batters later off another double this time from Jumper. She then came home on a base hit courtesy of Kelly.
Starting senior pitcher
Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, FL./Northeast HS) gave up a leadoff hit in the seventh but with a strikeout – her 10th of the game – a fly ball to center and grounder to first that she covered, ended the game. The win puts Randolph's record at 15-7 as she scattered five hits with no walks.
Fournet capped off game two going 2-for-3 with three RBI while Kelly went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and one RBI.
ASUN Standings
1. Liberty – 30-15, 12-3
2. FGCU – 24-16, 9-3
3. Lipscomb– 29-13-1, 8-4
4. KSU – 24-21, 9-6
T-5. UNF – 22-17, 4-8
T- 5. UNA – 17-14, 4-8
T- 5. Stetson – 15-24, 4-8
8. Jacksonville – 13-29, 1-11
Up Next
FGCU will hit the road and travel to UNF for (22-17, 4-8 ASUN) for a three games Friday-Saturday. Friday's doubleheader is slated for a 4 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 634-330-3 (.657), going 148-87 (.629) 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.
