FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team (4-1) suffered its first loss of the season to UConn (3-2) Sunday afternoon in a 7-3 decision at the FGCU Softball Complex.

"It was a really solid weekend but I don't think we really hit on all cylinders today," said head coach David Deiros. "We came out as tournament champions with a 4-1 record and had some chances in today's game, but we let it slip away in the middle innings. It's on to the next week from here against some really good teams including nationally ranked Arkansas twice."

 Scoreless after one inning, UConn broke out in the top of the second with four runs on three hits including one error. FGCU was able to cut into the deficit in the bottom half of the third as Johneisha Rowe (Avon Park, Fla./Sebring) hit a leadoff double to center and then scored on a wild pitch from second. The visitors added to their lead scratching a run across in the fifth and two more in the sixth.

The Eagles were able to narrow the lead down to four in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run home run from Mikenzie Vaughn (Kennesaw, Ga./FSW). Hope Hernandez (Tampa, Fla./Chamberlain/Troy) led off the frame with a single when Vaughn scorched the line drive home run with two outs.

Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter) gets tagged with the loss moving her to 2-1 after four innings of work. Emily Estroff (Coconut Creek, Fla./Coral Springs Charter/Villanova) and Taylor Bauman (Jacksonville, Fla./Atlantic Coast) tossed the final three frames. At the plate, Rowe finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base.

Up Next
FGCU returns to the diamond Thursday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. to take on Furman to kick off the FGCU Invite which takes place Feb. 13-16. Including another contest with Furman, the Eagles will face No. 20 Arkansas (twice), Memphis and University of Illinois-Chicago.

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.

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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 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.