FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast softball (4-4) rode an eight-run fourth inning to a 10-2 run-rule win over Hofstra (0-3) on Saturday night.
Mackenzie Leiti led FGCU with a 2-for-3 night that included her first collegiate home run and three RBI.
Presley Smith added a pinch hit two-RBI double, and
Sietske Drijvers went 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored.Â
Leiti's home run capped off the eight-run fourth inning for FGCU. The inning began with Leiti drawing a walk, followed by a single from
Parris Wiggs. A sacrifice bunt from
Sophie Wylie moved them into scoring position for
Presley Smith, who laced a double down the left field line to tie the game.
Kiki Daniels walked on four pitches, one of which got away from Hofstra's catcher, allowing
Ally Thompson – running for Smith – to advance to third. Back-to-back RBI singles followed from
Olivia Black and Drijvers to give the Eagles a 4-2 lead.
Tiffany Meek tacked on another hit to bring Black and Drijvers in to score, giving FGCU a 6-2 lead. Leiti then put her exclamation point on the inning with a home run to deep center field to take an 8-2 lead.
Hofstra took the first lead of the game in the third inning. The Pride scored their only two runs in the top of the third on a two-run single up the middle from Chelsea Villar before the Eagles bats got going one inning later.
FGCU wrapped up the run rule in the fifth. Gibson drew a bases-loaded walk and Leiti had her second walk-off in as many days with a single to shallow right field that scored Drijvers to end the game.
Grace Taylor (1-2) gave up two runs on four hits in five innings pitched, earning her first win at FGCU.
2026 softball season tickets, mini plans and single game tickets are on sale now at
https://fgcuathletics.evenue.net/list/SB.Â
For more information on FGCU Softball, follow @FGCUSoftball on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit
fgcuathletics.com.
Postgame Notes
–
Olivia Black,
Sietske Drijvers,
Mackenzie Leiti and
Parris Wiggs all had a multi-hit game
– Leiti hit her first career homer
– Leiti,
Tiffany Meek and
Presley Smith all had a multi-RBI game
–
Nikki Gibson walked three times
– Black stole her fourth base of the season
– Taylor earned her first win at FGCU
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