On Friday, the women's tennis and softball teams started the weekend off.
The women's tennis team faced Florida A&M University (FAMU) and won 7-0 to extend their record to 3-1.
The team of sophomore Julia Ascua and junior Julianna Curtis quickly won 6-0 on their match on court one while sophomore Laura Falceto Font and freshman Sara Kelly won 6-0 as well on court 3. Although the Eagle won two out of the three doubles, and secured the first point, senior Breana Stampfli and freshman Maja Ornberg finished their match 6-2 for ITF ranking points.
In the singles matches, Kelly won the first singles match with a 6-0 pair decision. Falceto Font would quickly follow Kelly with a 6-1, 6-0 win of her own before Stampfli finished the match with a 6-1 pair win to secure the automatic win.
Ornberg finished 6-2, 6-0 in her match. Later, freshman Sofia Perez won 6-3, 6-2 before Ascua won 6-4, 6-2 in the final match.
Later in the evening, the softball team opened their season at home at the FGCU softball complex. It was a green out and people were encouraged to wear green for the games.
Originally, two teams were suppose to play, but one of the teams, University of Connecticut (U-Conn) and Long Island University-Brooklyn (LIU). U-Conn was unable to fly to FGCU due to snow, so changes were made in the schedule and FGCU would instead play LIU-Brooklyn four times.
Usually, before each game and the announcement of the starting lineups, FGCU does a "tradition" where they circle together and move side-to-side while senior second baseman and team captain, Jeanie Verderese, leads the team in a pregame rally, like any sports team does.
In the first game, FGCU won 7-0. On the pitching part, Riley Randolph the win after pitching a seven inning shutout, while giving up two hits, and striking out five batters.
Offensively, it was junior third baseman, Brittany McGuire, and junior right fielder, Erica Ward, who led the charge. McGuire went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored. Ward was 1-for-2 with the two RBI single.
Sophomore first baseman Racquel Fournet, and senior catcher Brianna Tourtillot also contributed with an RBI each. Fournet went 1-or-2 with a double, one run scored and a walk while Tourtillott went 2-for-4 with two singles in the game to go with the one RBI.
Juniors LuLu Newmark and Nat Lopez had two hits in the game.
In the second game, FGCU played in the evening, and once again, beat LIU 8-0 by the mercy rule.
Starting in the bottom of the second inning, junior Brianne Innamorato started with a one out single to center. Then sophomore Morgan Sutherland was hit by a pitch before Lopez loaded the bases with a single to right. Junior Kelsey Huff, started the run rally with a bases-clearing double that drove in Innamorto, Sutherland and Lopez before Fournet grounded out to end the inning.
Huff would finish 2-for-3 with three RBIs, a walk and a run scored. Innomorato went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
In the end, it was freshman pitcher, Morgan White, that drove in the game-winning run on a pinch hit, bases-loaded single for the eight-run mercy rule.
Senior pitcher, Taylor Wade, got the win throwing a six inning shutout, giving up four hits with six strikeouts.
On Saturday, the women's soccer team played a scrimmage against the University of Victoria, an NAIA university from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The result ended in a 1-1 tie.
The softball team played LIU in their third game, and won by the score of 9-1 via the eight run mercy rule. Randolph got the win throwing five innings, giving up one earned run on seven hits while striking out one batter.
Offensively, Huff and Fournet led the offense. Huff went 4-for-4 with a triple, three runs scored and two RBIs while Fournet was 2-for-2 with two doubles, three RBIs, one run scored and a walk.
McGuire, Newmark, and Verderese also contributed with a hit and an RBI each.
I was unable to catch the fourth game, but I had Jim Tourtillott, Bri's father, keep me updated.
The Eagles won 8-0 via the mercy rule in the final game before they start their road trip.
Wade was the winning pitcher throwing five innings with three strikeouts before junior Gabbee Draney threw a scoreless inning of relief.
Huff was 3-for-3 with two runs scored, one RBI and a stolen base, Fournet was 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs, Newmark went 2-for-3 with a RBI and one run scored and junior Ashley Swiderski went 1-for-3 and hit the lone home run in the game. Junior Emily Demurias drove in the game-winning run on a single.
At the end of the four games, Innamorato led the team, conference and the nation in batting average (.857).
The softball team will be on the road, but instead of going to a different state to play, they will be playing outside of the US in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico against No. 21 Fresno State, Texas Tech. Cal State Fullerton and Mississippi State.
Later in the evening, the FGCU men's and women's basketball team had a doubleheader against Kennesaw State.
The women's basketball team played first, and during the game, people in the arena were wearing blue since it was a blue out. It was back and fourth in the first quarter, but by the second, the Eagles outscored the Owls 18-5.
By the second half, the Eagles took over and finished by the final score of 69-35.
Junior Rose Julien scored a team high 15 points (6-8 FG, 2-4 3PT) and 5 assists.
Freshman Tytionia Adderly had a double-double of 11 points and 14 rebounds.
The Eagles went 9-for-19 from the three point line.
A little while later, the men's basketball played. The players that Kennesaw had that were big threats were Kendrick Ray and Aubrey Williams, but that didn't stop FGCU.
In the first half, FGCU went ahead 36-29 and then finished off the Owls in the second half despite them trying to make a comeback. In the end, FGCU won 75-63.
Redshirt junior Brandon Goodwin led the team with 24 points, three assists and had six rebounds.
Redshirt senior Demetris Morant had 17 points and seven rebounds
Redshirt sophomore Zach Johnson had 10 points, four rebounds and three assists.
Off the bench, sophomore Rayjon Tucker led the charge with seven points.
Junior Christian Terrell came off the bench while battling an ankle injury. Terrell had six points in the game.
On Sunday, the women's tennis team wrapped up the weekend by beating FAU 5-2.
FAU won the doubles point, but a 7-5, 6-2 win by Kelly tied the score. Stampfli then got a 7-5, 6-4 win to bring FGCU ahead by one. Ascúa, despite fighting back to win the second set, lost 1-6, 6-2, 5-7.
With the score 2-2, Perez fell in the first set, but came back with a 1-6, 6-3, 6-2 to bring the score to 3-2 FGCU. Ornberg secured the final match point with a 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 win to help FGCU win the series. Font won 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to make it 5-2.
In the end, there were eight wins and one tie for FGCU the whole weekend, which was a successful weekend for the school.
Below are a few pictures and videos from Friday and parts of Saturday's softball games:
Racquel Fournet at-bat
Randolph strikes out Angie Rizzi
Brittany McGuire at the plate
2 comments:
That is a lot of games, but I am not surprised at all that you attended all the games. Its really cool for the players when they have loyal fans like you that attend every game. In the future if you can, try and get a media pass so after the game you can get quotes from the players and coaches. It would make this site even better. I enjoy coming to read your articles and I think that can make it even better.
It's amazing your dedication to watching and writing about sports. It takes a lot of work. I know because I worked in a soccer team for over a year, and I used to help out the reporters in some assignments. And that was only one team! Congratulations and keep it up!
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