FLORENCE, Ala. – The FGCU softball team (21-16, 6-3 ASUN) completed its three-game sweep of UNA (17-14, 3-6 ASUN) leaving Hilda B. Anderson Stadium with a final score of 3-2 Sunday afternoon.
It's the second time this season the Eagles take three games from an ASUN foe (Kennesaw State).
"Farley [Callaghan] had another great day at the plate and Marissa [Mesiemore] battled all day long," said head coach
David Deiros. "Our defense was solid all weekend and we made a few great plays to end rallies. It sure makes the travel home much smoother"
Senior
Brooke Clemens (West Rotunda, FL./Florida) hit a one-out bloop single over the second base bag for the Eagles' first hit of the ball game in the top of the second. After hitting the game-winning home run in the sixth inning of game two yesterday,
Farley Callaghan (Ponte Vedra Beach, FL./Ponte Vedra HS) followed it up with another blast to left-center. Her second homer of the season gave FGCU a 2-0 advantage.
UNA responded in the bottom of the fourth tacking on two unearned runs with two out for the 2-2 tie. The contest would remain scoreless over the next two frames until Callaghan got things going for FGCU with a leadoff double to left-center. Freshman
Ashley Hayes (Naples, FL./Barron Collier HS) was called into pinch-run and soon stole third, only to come home on an error at third that let the ball slip away.
Starting sophomore pitcher
Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, FL./South Sumter HS) trekked back into the circle in the seventh looking for her third win in two days. It didn't come easy for the Bushnell native as UNA placed its first two runners on. Unfazed, Mesiemore forced a swinging strikeout with a full count, a pop fly to third and a diving catch by freshman
Reedy Davenport (St. Johns, FL./Bartram Trail HS) at short secured the 3-2 victory.
Mesiemore's final line included five strikeouts with only two walks. Both runs she surrendered were unearned. She now moves to 7-4 overall in the circle in her fourth complete game. Callaghan recorded FGCU's two of three hits (HR), finishing 2-for-2 with two RBI.
Up Next
FGCU will close out its non-conference slate Wednesday, April 10 on the road at FIU (19-19, 1-10 C-USA) with a pair of games. Game one is set for a 4 p.m. first pitch.
ASUN Championship
FGCU will play host to the 2019 ASUN Softball Championship Wednesday-Saturday, May 8-11. This will mark the second time FGCU will serve as hosts for the tournament, the first time coming back in 2016. The winner of the event will earn the ASUN's automatic bid into the NCAA Championship tournament. Game times and ticket information will be announced at a later date.
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 631-330-3 (.657), going 145-87 (.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.
