JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - FGCU softball captured a series win over Jacksonville with 6-3 victory on Sunday.

On Saturday, the Green and Blue split a scheduled doubleheader against the Dolphins, winning game one 7-3 in extras (10) and dropped game two 9-5.

FGCU improved to 16-31 overall and ultimately closed ASUN play at 9-15 with Sunday's series-clinching victory. Jacksonville fell to 15-28 overall and 9-12 in league action.

"Proud of how we took command early and in all facets today, at the plate and in the circle" head coach David Deiros said. "Credit to Jacksonville for not rolling over and making us earn the win from start to finish. It was a total team effort to collect a huge final conference victory as things continue to shake out for ASUN Championship qualifying spots."

For the first time all series, FGCU scored first on Sunday courtesy of Cana Davis' 11th homer of the season. Davis' two-run no doubter put the Eagles ahead early, 2-0 in the top of the third. 

Tayli Filla joined the home run party in the third as well, a three-run shot to give the Eagles a 5-0 advantage.

For the weekend, the Eagles blasted a total of six home runs. Davis hit two while Emily Estroff, Reedy Davenport, Neely Peterson and Filla each connected for one.

FGCU would add a run in the sixth off a Dolphin error to lead 6-0 through five complete. Jacksonville did not go quietly into the night as the Dolphins pushed across two runs in the sixth and one more in the seventh amidst a late-game rally effort.

Davenport, Peterson and Filla produced two hits apiece Sunday, accounting for six of FGCU's nine total hits.

Estroff (3-4) earned the starting nod in the circle and tossed 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and struck out three en route to her second win of the series.

FGCU will now head to Gainesville next weekend to compete in the UF Tournament consisting of No. 9 Florida and Mercer. The Eagles will battle both the Gators and Mercer twice.

The Green and Blue will face Mercer at 2:30 p.m. and Florida at 7:30 p.m. on Friday. On Saturday, the Eagles will face Mercer once more at 9:30 a.m. and then close the tournament with a 12 p.m. matchup against the Gators.

Both contests against Florida are scheduled to air on SECN+.

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 20th season as head coach during the 2022 campaign. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to a 704-393-3 (.640), going 169-105 (.615) in the ASUN, having 15 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.

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!

#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April 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 92 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 14+ seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 10 seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 44 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 20, 2021-22), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2022) 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 in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 25 consecutive semesters. The past five semesters (Fall 2019 – Fall 2021) each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA in each. 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.