FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team is all set for the 2020 campaign as the Eagles will host five teams as part of the FGCU Kickoff Classic taking place Friday through Sunday.
The Green and Blue will start the weekend with a doubleheader Friday night facing Delaware at 6 p.m. and will end the evening against Boston College at 8:15 pm. Saturday, FGCU will be back on the field versus Georgetown at 6 p.m. and LIU at 8:15 p.m. The final contest of the weekend on Sunday will take place between FGCU and UConn at 1:30 p.m.
The Green and Blue
FGCU turned in a 29-22 record last season going 13-7 in ASUN play, finishing third in the league standings during the regular season.
Reedy Davenport (St. Johns, FL./Bartram Trail HS) – the ASUN Freshman of the Year in 2019 – is FGCU's leading returning hitter after producing a .291 average recording 43 hits that included seven doubles, four home runs and 24 RBI.
Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, FL./South Sumter HS) comes back to the circle as she collected 10 wins, holding a 1.80 ERA. Both Davenport and Mesiemore were named to the preseason All-Conference list players January.
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.
Delaware
The Blue Hens ended 2019 with a record of 22-29, going 7-14 in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA). The team has seven of their eight top hitters returning from last season, including Karolina Flores who batted .327 with 22 RBI last spring. Also returning to the circle is Sarah Piening as she posted a 3.92 ERA and 14 wins last year.
This will be the second all-time meeting between both teams as FGCU narrowly fell to Delaware in 2012, 6-4.
Boston College
The Eagles went 18-35 overall and 4-20 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) last spring. Two returners in Emme Martinez led the attack batting .321, while Susanna Anderson posted six wins to go along with a 3.93 ERA.
FGCU leads the all-time series, 3-1.
Georgetown
The Hoyas recorded a 14-35 record in 2019, going 6-13 in the Big East. Their top bat in Noelle Holiday (.347) comes back for her senior year as Diller London earned six wins last season in the circle.
FGCU leads the all-time series, 5-0.
LIU
The LIU Sharks are coming off a strong season after going 36-18 overall and 14-2 in the Northeast Conference (NEC). Kiana Cisneros led the Sharks last season with a .376 batting average, while Elena Valenzuela produced 19 wins in the circle with a 2.19 ERA.
FGCU leads the all-time series 12-4.
UConn
The Huskies finished their 2019 season going 21-29 and 8-13 in American Athletic Conference (AAC). The team has a number of key players returning – Briana Marcelino (.359), Olivia Sappington (.337) led the squad in batting average. Meanwhile, Marybeth Olson collected 11 wins with a 2.18 ERA.
FGCU leads the all-time series 7-0.
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
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence.
Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
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 642-337-3 (.655), 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.
