FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (29-22) was defeated 5-3 by UNF (30-24), the eventual ASUN Tournament runner-up, in the loser's semifinal bracket of the 2019 ASUN Tournament Saturday morning.

"I'm just really proud of my team on the way they came out after those two rain delays. We gave ourselves a chance to win," said head coach David Deiros. "We had the tying run at the plate with our number four hitter and our number five coming up, we can't ask for more than that."

The Eagles and the Ospreys resumed play Saturday morning at 8 am due to inclement weather Friday night.

FGCU fell behind against UNF in the top of the first as the Ospreys tacked on two runs on four hits. The Eagles had a prime opportunity to tie or take the lead in its half but the squad left the bases loaded. In the very next frame, UNF pushed its lead to 5-0 after using three hits and one error.

The Eagles cut down the Ospreys' lead in the bottom of the third pushing across two runs on two hits. Kate Kelly (Cape Coral, FL./Seminole State College) poked a leadoff single into right and stole second to get the offense going. Following a walk from McKenna Batterton (Norco, CA./Eleanor Roosevelt HS), both runners then moved on a passed ball. Haley Morrell (Tampa, FL./Academy of Holy Names) brought Kelly home on a chopper to second as Racquel Fournet (Windermere, FL./Windermere Preparatory School) tapped a single into left to score Batterton.

FGCU scored its last run in the bottom of the fifth as Morrell laced a two-out double to right-center. Fournet scored her in with her second knock of the game, a single to right field.

Reedy Davenport (St. Johns, FL./Bartram Trail HS) reached second in the top of the seventh with two outs on a throwing error by the first baseman but a grounder to second was the final putout in the 5-3 defeat. 

Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, FL./South Sumter HS) was tagged with the loss after going five innings, scattering eight hits with three earned runs. On offense, the Eagles produced six hits with Kelly and Fournet (two RBI) collecting two each.

At the conclusion of the championship game, Kelly was named to the ASUN All-Tournament Team. 

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 641-336-3 (.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--