FGCU vs. JU Softball Opening Conference Series

The FGCU softball team (20-14, 2-1 A-Sun Conference) opened conference with a 2-1 series win at home against Jacksonville University Dolphins (21-14, 1-2 A-Sun Conference).

The Eagles had a 6-2 win in the first game and a 3-2 loss in the second game on Saturday before a 4-2 win to conclude the series on Sunday.

Sophomore Riley was set to pitch for FGCU while JU used Taylor Thorpe to matchup.

The Eagles and Dolphins went scoreless in the first two innings until JU scored on a RBI single by sophomore infielder Danielle Baker, but things turned around for FGCU.

Senior infielder Jeanie Verderese started with a one out single to center field. After junior Kelsey Huff lined out, junior Natalie Lopez dropped a bunt single that also moved Verderese to second. The big bat came into play. Sophomore Racquel Fournet provided a big spark with a first pitch three run home run to center field to put the Eagles ahead 3-1 before junior LuLu Newmark lined out to end the inning.

After a scoreless fourth inning, JU cut the lead to 3-2 after Baker hit a RBI double in the fifth.

Going scoreless in the bottom of the fifth and the top of the sixth, FGCU brought back more in the run category. Fournet led off the inning and hit another first pitch home run to start the run category. Two batters later, junior Bri Innamorato hit a single to second base. The next batter, junior Brittany McGuire hit a single to center. Sophomore Morgan Sutherland came in to pinch hit for redshirt sophomore Ashley Swiderski and hit a first pitch double to left center to drive in Innamorato and McGuire for two more insurance runs before Verderese fouled out to end the inning.

Randolph (11-3, 2.40 ERA) pitched a complete game, giving up two runs on six hits, walked three and struck out seven batters.

On nine hits, Fournet led the charge offensively. Fournet went 2-3 with the two home runs and four RBIs.

Huff, Lopez, Innamorato, Newmark, McGuire, Verderese and Sutherland all had one hit each.

In the second game, senior Taylor Wade took the mound for the team against junior Madison Ragan.

After a scoreless first, the Dolphins struck first on a Ragan RBI single.

Two innings later, Swiderski started with a one out triple and scored on a Innamorato sacrifice fly. With two outs, McGuire hit a solo home run to left center, but the Dolphins would jump ahead with two RBI singles by freshman Bethany Kursch and junior Jordan Daniels to win the game 3-2.

Wade (7-7, 3.08 ERA), despite getting the loss, threw a complete game, but gave up all three runs, with two of them earned, on six hits, walked and struck out two batters.

McGuire went 1-3 with the home run.

Huff and Swiderski had two hits each.

FGCU had four stolen bases in the game (Huff, Fournet, Innamorato and Verderese).

The final game happened on Sunday and the winner would win the series between the two teams.

Randolph took the mound once again for FGCU while JU went with Ragan.

In the top of the first inning, Randolph struck out two of the her three batters faced.

FGCU struck first in the run category. After Huff and Lopez were out, Fournet reached on base on a fielding error. With the bases loaded after back-to-back singles from Innamorato and Swiderski, McGuire drove the first run in. It looked like the Dolphins got the third out, but a costly error from Daniels after attempting to get the out at third, brought Fournet in to score.

Randolph struck out one batter, but JU tied the game in the second after a sacrifice Fly from freshman Makenzie Buss.

FGCU would then regain the lead in the third. Lopez started with a leadoff single and a stolen base before she scored a run on a Innamorato RBI double.

Randolph would strike out two batters at the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth, senior Bree Tourtillott would get hit by a pitch to start the inning. Junior Emily Demurias pinch ran for Tourtillott, but was out after leaving the first base early. Sutherland would walk, but was then out after a fielder's choice from Verderese. Huff would then line a triple to right field, bringing in Verderese. Lopez then drove in Huff on an RBI single to the shortstop.

Two scoreless innings later, Randolph went to finish up the game in the top of the seventh. She struck out the first batter, After giving up a single and a fielding error occurring, JU would get another run on the board after a RBI single from senior Ciara Jones, but it was not enough as Randolph got the last batter to ground out to her ending the game 4-2 for FGCU.

Huff, Lopez and Innamorato had two hits and an RBI each.

Randolph would get the win once again after throwing another complete game. Randolph gave up two unearned runs on five hits while walking one and striking out eight batters. At the end of the series, FGCU is 2-1 in conference and is in a three way with USC Upstate and Kennesaw State.

FGCU continues conference play with a road trip to Jacksonville to face UNF before coming back home to face USC Upstate where they will have a blue out for the Saturday games and on the Sunday game, it will be senior day, where FGCU recognizes four seniors on the team: Jeanie Verderese, Amber Plaza, Bree Tourtillott and Taylor Wade. They would also recognize Upstate's seniors as well during the game: Ryan Rector, Abbie Millete, Holly McKinnon and Lexi Shubert.