FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast softball (5-6) got freshman Mackenzie Leiti's second home run of the season, but fell 3-2 to Louisville (9-3) on Saturday evening.

The Eagles only managed three hits against the Cardinals including Leiti's homer. Sophie Wylie and Tiffany Meek each singled; Wylie's single put her on base for Leiti, who crushed a fifth-inning two run shot to deep left center field to tie the game at 2.

Previously, Louisville had added a pair of runs in the third and fourth inning. In the third, a single and stolen bases set the stage for a Louisville run. In the fourth, though, the Eagles threw the ball back to the circle, but neither the pitchers nor the other players in the circle noticed that the softball was heading their way.

The runners on second base did, and advanced to third base as a result of the miscue. A single up the middle followed to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.

Leiti changed the landscape in the bottom of the fifth, driving her second long ball of the year over the wall to tie the game. Louisville ultimately manufactured a run in the top of the seventh via a sac fly to take control of the game and won, 3-2.

The Eagles will also host eight neutral site games, beginning at 10 a.m. on Friday, between Louisville, Wisconsin, Buffalo and UConn. The full tournament schedule can be viewed here. 

2026 softball season tickets, mini plans and single game tickets are on sale now at https://fgcuathletics.evenue.net/list/SB. 

For more information on FGCU Softball, follow @FGCUSoftball on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit fgcuathletics.com.
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