FORT MYERS, Fla. - Florida Gulf Coast University softball dropped both games of the doubleheader against Kennesaw State University on Friday 4-2 and 7-3.
With this result, and scores around the conference, FGCU falls to fourth in the conference, tied with the University of North Alabama but owning the tiebreaker. Ahead of the Eagles in third is the University of Central Arkansas who only played one game on Friday. UCA is a half game ahead of the Eagles. If the two become tied, the tiebreaker will come down to RPI ranking. FGCU is currently ranked 64th while UCA is 94th.
The University of North Florida is ahead of the Green and Blue for second by one game. The Eagles own the tiebreaker against the Ospreys so if the Ospreys lose on Saturday and the Eagles win, FGCU will go ahead of them in the standings. In the event of a multi-way tie where head-to-head can't decide the tiebreaker, RPI ranking will be the tiebreaker. FGCU is currently 64th, UNF is 71st, UCA is 94th, UNA is 98th.
The first game of the doubleheader saw
Angelina Bonilla in the circle. Bonilla went 4.2 innings of no-hit softball to start the game before a ball hit sharply back to her allowed the first hit of the game. The game was scoreless until the bottom of the fifth when
Avery Viancos stole second and a poor throw allowed
McKenzie Wittenberg to score the game's opening run. The Owls answered with two in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the sixth the Eagles got the bases loaded with
Meagan Ricks at the plate. Ricks worked the count to full and would see twelve pitches before a called third strike confounded the base runners.
Tiffany Meek was standing off second when the Owls pitcher tried to throw her out at second. The ball went into the outfield allowing every batter to advance and FGCU tied the game.
The game would go into extras which the Eagles scored two in the eighth to win the game.
The second game was a pitching duel with
Claire Maulding on the mound. Maulding went 3.1 scoreless innings before a lead off double by the Owls got KSU on the board. The Owls would score one more in the fifth and sixth to bring the score to 3-0 going into the bottom of the seventh.
The Eagles fought back in the seventh with five singles and a walk culminated with a sacrifice fly to get the third run of the inning to force extra innings.
The Owls scored four in the eighth inning to take a 7-3 lead that would ultimately be the deciding total.
Up next is senior day for FGCU Softball. Festivities start at 12:30 p.m.
