FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast softball (8-17, 2-0 ASUN) hit three home runs in a 13-7 shootout win over Queens (6-15, 0-2) to win both games on Saturday and take the first series of ASUN play.
Kiki Daniels hit a pair of solo shots and
Mackenzie Leiti hit a three-run homer as the Eagles had their best power hitting game in four years. Daniels' two homer-game is FGCU's first individual multi-homer game since Cana Davis hit two against UCF on March 6, 2022.
FGCU also racked up hits at a historic rate. The Eagles' 18 hits is tied for the sixth most hits in a game in program history. It's the first time FGCU had an 18-hit game since March 5, 2021, against South Dakota, and is just the Eagles second 18+ hit game in ASUN play (FGCU also had 18 hits against Jacksonville on March 20, 2009).
"I'm really proud of how we fought all day," head coach
Lindsay Fico said. "It was a total team effort on both sides of the ball. From our bench to our starters, everyone found a way to be productive. Selfless softball is always fun to watch."
The power wasn't limited to home runs. FGCU's seven extra base hits are its most in a game this season.
Olivia Black hit her second triple of the year; Leiti,
Sietske Drijvers and
Sophie Wylie all doubled.
Daniels kicked off the scoring in the top of the first with her first homer of the day. The Royals scored two in the bottom half of the frame, but Wylie immediately tied the game with a double to drive in
Nikki Gibson in the top half of the second. Drijvers knocked in Wylie to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.
Queens leveled the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the third on an infield single. The FGCU bats were just getting started, though, and posted a five-run frame in the fourth. Drijvers led off the inning with a double, and
Presley Smith legged out an infield single to put runners on the corners. Daniels walked to load the bases before
Tiffany Meek scored Drijvers with a sac fly. Black's triple followed, rolling all the way to the wall in left center to bring Smith and Daniels around to score.
Parris Wiggs singled in Black as part of her team-best 3-for-3 day at the plate.
K'Mari Williams pinch ran for Wiggs, and came all the way around to score on a two-base error and wild pitch to give FGCU a 8-3 lead.
The Royals battled back, scoring one run in the fourth and three runs in the fifth on eight walks and two singles to draw within 8-7, but FGCU's offense had more in the tank for the final two frames. Gibson drove in Black with a single to give the Eagles some breathing room before Leiti eliminated all doubt with a three-run moonshot to center field that scored Wylie and Williams. Not to be outdone, Daniels tacked on her second homer of the day and FGCU's third of the day to lead off the seventh inning and reach the eventual final score of 13-7.
Victoria Ash registered the win in the circle to improve to 2-3 on the year.
The Eagles will go for the series sweep at noon on Sunday, March 15.
2026 softball season tickets, mini plans and single game tickets are on sale now at
https://fgcuathletics.evenue.net/list/SB.
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Postgame Notes
– FGCU improved to 4-2 in the all-time series with Queens
–
Kiki Daniels hit her second and third home runs of the season for FGCU's first multi-home run game of the season
– The two-homer game is FGCU's first individual multi-homer game since Cana Davis hit two against UCF on March 6, 2022
–
Mackenzie Leiti hit her fourth home run of the season
– FGCU's three home runs as a team is the most team homers in a game since April 30, 2022 against Jacksonville
– The Eagles' 18 hits is tied for the sixth most hits in a game in program history
– It is the first time FGCU had an 18-hit game since March 5, 2021, against South Dakota
– It is just the Eagles second 18+ hit game in ASUN play (FGCU also had 18 hits against Jacksonville on March 20, 2009).
– Seven players recorded multi-hit games:
Sietske Drijvers,
Mackenzie Leiti,
Olivia Black,
Parris Wiggs,
Nikki Gibson and
Sophie Wylie
– Wiggs' 3-for-3 day was her first three-hit game of the season
– Leiti, Daniels and Black all had multi-RBI games
– Daniels, Black, Williams and Wylie all scored multiple runs
