FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team will welcome four programs to the Nest this weekend hosting the FGCU Invitational, starting with a single game first versus Furman Thursday night at 7 p.m.
The Green and Blue
FGCU opened the 2020 season this past weekend going 4-1 in three days with wins against Delaware (4-1), Boston College (4-0), Georgetown (5-0), and LIU (5-1). The lone loss came against UConn Sunday afternoon which was a 7-3 loss. During that stretch, freshman
Johneisha Rowe (Avon Park, Fla./Sebring) batted .545, scored four runs while stealing three bases. In the circle,
Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter) and
Sarah Lawton (Waterbury, Conn./Holy Cross/FSW) each collected two wins. Lawton is 2-0 and holds a 0.70 ERA. Meanwhile,
Hope Hernandez (Tampa, Fla./Chamberlain/Troy) produced a team best four RBI over the weekend.
2020 Game Tickets
Single game tickets are good for all games occurring on a single day and are $7 for adults, $5 for youth (ages 3-15), and $5 for current or former US military service members.
Groups of 15 or more can enjoy a day at the ballpark with reserved block seating, group activities, and the choice of free FGCU gear or concessions. Packages start at just $7 per person. Call the ticket office at 239-590-7145 for more information or to book your group.
The Spring Frequent Flyer Pass allows multiple entries into Softball and Baseball during the 2020 regular season. Passes are available for 15, 30, and 60 entries for any regular season home game. They can be used in any combination until the pass is exhausted. Passes cost $60 for 15 entries, $105 for 30 entries, and $180 for 60 entries. Single game tickets and Frequent Flyer Passes can be purchased in advance online at FGCUTickets.com or over the phone at 239-590-7145.
Furman
The Paladins are 1-2 at the moment as they opened their season in Atlanta in the Buzz Classic hosted by Georgia Tech. Natalie Morgan hit .500 (4-for-8) with four RBI. In the circle, Morgan Smith has the lone victory, making three appearances in two starts.
This will be the first meeting between both programs.
#24 Arkansas
The Razorbacks produced a 4-1 record this past weekend in New Mexico at the Troy Cox Classic. Sydney Parr led the offensive attack hitting .556 with 10 hits and four RBI. Arkansas has three players with at least six RBI. In the circle, four Razorbacks have seen action as Autumn Storms is 3-0 and has yet to concede a run. The squad is coming off a 38-win season in 2019 where it made the NCAA Tournament for a third-straight year.
FGCU and Arkansas have met one time prior to this weekend (2012, Arkansas defeated FGCU, 14-7).
Memphis
The Tigers enter the Nest with a 3-2 record as they competed in the Hawaii Classic last weekend. In five starts, Sara Ann Davidson recorded a .455 average at the dish, driving in four runners. Memphis used five pitchers over the three-day stretch, led by Chyanne Ellett who went 2-1 in 11.2 innings of work.
FGCU trails the all-time series, 1-2. Last season, FGCU came out on top, 5-0.
UIC
Illinois-Chicago will be opening its 2020 season in Southwest Florida this weekend. Last year, the Flames turned in a 32-23 overall record, going 20-4 in the Horizon League. Kayla Wedl returns for her senior year as she batted .453, leading the team in RBI (61), triples (four) and home runs (15). In the circle, Allie Trudeau collected a team-best 12 wins, making 23 starts in 33 appearances.
This will be the second meeting between FGCU and UIC – the Eagles claimed a 4-3 victory back in 2016 at home.
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.
E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
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COACH DEIROS
The founding father of FGCU softball, David Deiros is in his 18th season as head coach. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to a 646-338-3 (.656), 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.
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 80 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 soccer, women's soccer, and women's basketball again in 2018-19. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in spring 2018 and have outpaced their institution's undergraduate student body GPA each of the past 20 semesters. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. 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 in 2017.
