FORT MYERS, Fla. – The No. 3-seeded FGCU softball team (29-21) defeated No. 5 seed Kennesaw State (26-29), 2-0, Friday afternoon to head into the loser's semifinal bracket against UNF.
The Eagles and the Ospreys went through two weather delays in the second inning before the game was halted and postponed until 8 am Saturday morning as UNF holds a 5-0 lead.
"Our kids came out in that first inning and then our defense along with Riley [Randolph] made it stand up," said head coach
David Deiros about the KSU contest. "We just didn't give them too many chances to breathe until the last inning and then we withstood their best shot."
FGCU 2 | KSU 0
The Eagles got off to an early start right out of the gates scoring their two runs in the bottom of the first.
Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, FL./Seminole State College) ignited the offense with single to second as a grounder moved her into scoring position.Freshman of the Year
Reedy Davenport (St. Johns, FL./Bartram Trail HS) then stepped in a roped an RBI double down the left-field line for the 1-0 lead.
Up next,
Haley Morrell (Tampa, FL./Academy of Holy Names) followed it up with a double of her own to left-center to give FGCU its 2-0 margin. Meanwhile, the two runs proved to be enough insurance for starting pitcher
Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, FL./Northeast HS). She limited the Owls to just two hits while giving up one walk, retiring the KSU side four different times.
The visitors threaten in the bottom of the seventh placing runners on first and second but a pair of pop flies to center and right closed out the game for the Eagles.
Randolph moves to 18-8, matching her single-season high win totals from 2017 and 2018. Kelly finished the game going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
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 641-335-3 (.657), going 147-90 (.620) 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 77 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 36 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 semester and had an ASUN 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 runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--
