TAMPA, Fla. – The FGCU softball team split its Saturday doubleheader at the USF Tournament, stumbling to Penn State but soaring past Saint Francis.

FGCU (14-12) broke the single-game school record for the most stolen bases (12) in its 11-3 victory over Saint Francis. The previous record was 11, which was set against Clark Atlanta back in 2005 – a record that stood for 18 years. Missouri State's 14 steals in a game is the top national mark in 2023.

The Saint Francis outcome was stark contrast to the Eagles' performance in the morning slate against the Nittany Lions (15-3) -- as the Green & Blue committed seven errors in a 8-2 defeat.

"Just a really nice bounce back after a disappointing start in the first game," said FGCU softball head coach David Deiros. "Give Penn State credit. They came out and they punched us really hard, but we also made too many mistakes to go ahead and stop the bleeding. I really want to focus on the second game. Bonilla did a great gob of coming in and putting a stop to their rally, and our offense was able to do all the things its capable of doing. Just a really nice bounce-back win, and we look to carry that momentum into Sunday."

The Eagles broke a three-game skid by blinding the Red Flash in six innings after suffering three consecutive losses to Big Ten opponents. On Thursday, FGCU went wire-to-wire before falling 3-2 to Penn State to open the USF Tournament. The Green & Blue was then blanked by Illinois 9-0 on Friday.

Eight different Eagles were credited with a stolen base against Saint Francis. Sophomore Avery Viancos (Orlando, Fla./Lake Nona HS)led all Eagles with three steals, while freshman Emily Chiarella (Lutz, Fla./Steinbrenner HS) and freshman Olivia Black (Fort Pierce, Fla./Fort Pierce Central HS) each swiped two bags. Black is currently second in the ASUN Conference in total stolen bases on the year with 15. Chiarella and Viancos are tied for third in the league with 13.

FGCU's bats also woke up -- raking nine hits, including a triple, against Saint Francis. The Eagles scored at least one run in every inning. After opening with a run in the first and two more in the second, FGCU then used a five-run third to take 8-1 lead.

Viancos went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate, producing the two-run triple and scoring two runs. Viancos' four hits was her best for 2023 and her collegiate career. Black also finished unblemished at the plate, going 2-for-2 and scoring three runs.

FGCU added to its comfortable advantage by manufacturing a run in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings en route to the run-rule victory -- the second run-shortened victory for FGCU this season.

Junior Angelina Bonilla (Coral Gables, Fla./Coral Gables HS) earned her third win of the season in the circle for the Eagles. Bonilla pitched a scoreless four innings and struck out five, giving her a team-leading 45 strikeouts on the season.

In the morning game, the Nittany Lions opened with six runs to stun the Eagles early. Penn State added another run in the third to take a commanding 7-0 lead after just 3 1/2 innings. 

FGCU responded with single runs in the third and sixth, but could not pull any closer. Sophomore Sam Leski (Clearwater, Fla./Calvary Christian HS) produced one of the Eagles' only four hits against the Nittany Lions -- an RBI double that provided a much-needed offensive spark late in the contest to offer momentum heading into the Saint Francis clash.

The Green & Blue is now 1-4 all-time against Penn State and 13-28 against current Big Ten foes. Penn State posted a perfect 5-0 record at the USF Tournament. FGCU remained perfect against the Red Flash, now winning all seven of its meetings dating back to 2011.

FGCU will close out the USF Tournament on Sunday vs. Marist. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at the USF Softball Stadium.

For up-to-the-minute information on the FGCU softball program, follow on Twitter @FGCU_Softball, Instagram at fgcusoftball, Facebook at FGCU Softball, and stay tuned at FGCUAthletics.com.

COACH DEIROS
The founding father of FGCU softball, David Deiros enters his 21st season as head coach in 2023. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the ground up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to a 720-409-3 (.636) record, gone 176-109 (.618) in the ASUN, had 16 seasons with a winning record and nine campaigns of 35+ wins. Deiros has also led the Eagles to three ASUN regular season championships (2008, 2012, and 2016) and one ASUN Tournament title (2012). In 2012, FGCU defeated No. 5 Florida in its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Last season (2022), FGCU took down both No. 8 Texas and No. 10 Florida once again. 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 FGCUCampus Food Pantry (https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/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 https://www.fgcu.edu/adminservices/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.   

ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 96 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 15-plus seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just 11-plus seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 48 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. In 2022, the men's golf team became the first program to earn an at-large berth to the NCAA Tournament. Nine FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport -- including women's basketball (No. 20 in 2021-22 and No. 23 in 2022-23), baseball (No. 24 in 2023), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2022) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as four of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green & 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 3.66 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2022 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 27 consecutive semesters. The past seven semesters (Fall 2019 – Fall 2022) saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher cumulative 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.

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