FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU softball team will be tested right out of the gates as No. 21 UCF comes into town for a four-game series. Capacity will be limited with social distancing, fans must wear face masks at all times, and adhere to CDC guidelines.
The Green and Blue
FGCU produced a 19-8 record in 2020 before the season was ultimately canceled.
Johneisha Rowe (Avon Park, Fla./Sebring HS) was scorching hot at the plate as she led the team with a .481 batting average, swiping 18 bags (18-of-20), ending her season with a .571 on-base percentage. In the RBI column,
Haley Morrell (Tampa, Fla./Academy of Holy Names) and
Hope Hernandez (Tampa, Fla./Chamberlain HS/Troy) were tied for the team lead with 18.
In the circle, the pitching unit combined to post a 2.45 ERA.
Marissa Mesiemore (Bushnell, Fla./South Sumter HS) led the group with nine wins while
Sarah Lawton (Waterbury, Conn./Holy Cross HS/FSW) was right behind her with eight.
UCF
The Knights got off to their best start in program history in 2020, going 16-2 before ending the season 21-5-1, ranked 21st and seventh in the RPI standings. Some key returners include Shannon Doherty who batted .443. In the circle, Alea White comes back after posting a 1.85 ERA, collecting 11 wins in 18 appearances.
Both teams have met only five times with UCF taking each one. This will be the first meeting since 2017.
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 19th season as head coach. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to a 661-345-3 (.657), going 147-90 (.620) in the ASUN, having 14 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 82 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13 seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 38 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including women's basketball (No. 24, 2019-20) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three of the most recent. 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. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate (APR) in their sport and have had the highest percentage of teams so honored from these two groups over each of the past three years. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.46 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 22 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall and 2020 Spring semesters each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA. The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
