FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast softball (10-18, 4-0 ASUN) exploded for a seven-run third inning en route to a 10-7 win over Stetson (18-12, 3-1) in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader.
Kiki Daniels tied her career high with five RBI, including a three-run home run in the first inning and a two-run double in the third. She previously had five RBI against Samford as a freshman at Mercer.
Parris Wiggs and
Ally Thompson each had two-hit games, and every FGCU starter reached base.
Daniels' three-run homer to straightaway center field started the scoring in the bottom of the first after back-to-back walks to
Sietske Drijvers and
Mackenzie Leiti to start the game. Daniels hit the moonshot on the first pitch she saw; it's the sixth first-pitch homer for the Eagles this year of their 13 home runs.Â
The Hatters answered in the top half of the third with a four-run frame. Logan Forman gave Stetson a 4-3 lead with a two-run single that scored Irianis Garcia and Amber Chumley.Â
FGCU erupted with a seven-run inning in the bottom half of the frame.
Tiffany Meek and
Olivia Black drew walks to lead off the inning, and Wiggs laced a triple down the right field line to score both.
Nikki Gibson reached on a dropped third strike before
Sophie Wylie drove Wiggs in with a sac fly. Walks continued to hinder the Stetson staff, as Thompson and Drijvers loaded the bases with free passes.
Leiti hit a ground ball to third, and the throw home deflected off Gibson into the Hatters' dugout, allowing Thompson to score from second. Daniels rounded out her five RBI game with a double off the right field wall that gave FGCU a 10-4 lead.
Stetson attempted to climb back into the game, adding one run in the fourth and two in the sixth, but
Julia Bacoulis (4-8) closed the door and secured the 10-7 win for 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
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FGCU GIVE DAY 2026 LAUNCHES MARCH 25 AT NOONÂ
FGCU's annual Give Day – a 24-hour fundraising effort designed to support student-athletes, the 15 Division I sport programs and key priorities across FGCU athletics – launches at Noon on March 25.
Help support Your Hometown Team by making your gift during the 24-hour campaign (or anytime leading up to that 24-hour span) by visiting the FGCU Athletics
2026 Give Day webpage here.
