FGCU Softball: Final Home Games Preview

The FGCU softball team will wrap up their season with a final three game series at home against Lipscomb.

FGCU (24-27, 6-8 A-Sun) on a three series road trips against Kennesaw, USF and Stetson.

During their series with KSU (32-11, 8-6 A-Sun), FGCU lost 4-3 in extra innings in the first game and won the second game 3-0. During the third game of the series, FGCU was ahead 1-0 going into the fifth inning, but the game was underway a heavy rain delay. As a result, the third game was nullified.

Still struggling, FGCU tried at their next road series to USF (31-21, 8-6 AAC) for non-conference play, but to no avail, they were swept and lost 1-0 and 9-2 to the Bulls.

The final road trip came when they finished their last road trip against Stetson (26-18, 4-11 A-Sun) in success. In the first game, FGCU won 5-1, but lost 3-0 in the second game. In the rubber match, FGCU won the series 2-1 with a 13-3 (5 innings) win.

sophomore left-handed pitcher Riley Randolph got two of the three wins in the series pitching 12 innings giving up four runs (one earned) on 12 hits while walking four batters and striking out five batters.

Junior LuLu Newmark (3-10 in the series) brought the offense in the first game going 1-4 with a three run home run and going 2-3 with two singles, a walk, one RBI and three runs scored in the third game.

Junior Brianne Innamorato (3-10) was 1-3 in game two with a single and went on a tear in the third game going 2-3 with two singles, a walk, a three run home run, five RBIs and three runs scored.

FGCU will be playing their last conference series at home against Lipscomb.

Lipscomb (34-16, 7-8 A-Sun) had just finished and lost a three game series against Kennesaw State. They lost 9-1 (6 innings) in the first game, 2-0 in the second and 6-2 in the third.

Players to keep a eye out for from Lipscomb are junior infielder/pitcher Caitlin Plocheck, sophomore pitcher Mandy Jordan, senior pitcher McCarley Thomas and freshman infielder/outfielder Peyton Ward.

Plocheck is seemingly the powerhouse of the team. She is hitting .361  and lead the team in home runs (9) and RBIs (30).

Jordan is currently 22-8 with a 1.31 era. In 32 games, Jordan has thrown 26 complete games (seven shutouts) in 198 innings giving up 48 runs (37 earned) on 139 hits while walking 40 and striking out 232 batters.

Thomas, one of three seniors, is 11-7 with a 2.48 era and in 21 games, she has thrown 13 complete games (three shutouts) in 113 innings while giving up 52 runs (40 earned) on 95 hits while walking 47 and strking out 111 batters.

Ward is the speedster and leads the team in stolen bases (18).

Overall, FGCU is 8-14 overall against Lipscomb and the last time the two teams met was at Lipscomb and Lipscomb won the series 2-1 (9-2 FGCU, 0-9 Lipscomb and 1-6 Lipscomb).

As it stands for the moment, the standings in the A-Sun are as noted:

1. *Upstate (38-11, 11-4 conference)
2. *Kennesaw (35-16, 11-6 conference)
3. *UNF (29-22, 8-6 conference)
4. *Lipscomb (34-16, 7-8 conference)
5. *FGCU (24-27, 6-8 conference)
6. JU (27-22, 5-8 conference)
7. Stetson (26-18, 4-11 conference)
*Clinched a spot in the A-Sun Championship

Upstate, Kennesaw and UNF have already clinched a spot in the A-Sun tournament, which will be hosted at Lipscomb.

In the other final conference series, JU will face Stetson and UNF will face Upstate.

Already facing the possibility of elimination, Stetson has to win at least two of their final series games against JU or they will be eliminated.

Here are a few scenarios for FGCU to get between the three and four seeds:

1. They can attempt for the No. 3 seed if they sweep Lipscomb and Upstate sweeps UNF.
2. They can attempt for the No. 4 seed if they sweep or win two of three games against Lipscomb.

FGCU and Lipscomb will play Thursday at 5 pm and 7 pm to open the series and Friday at 1 pm to close the series.

This will also mark as the last games of the season for both FGCU and Lipscomb as well as for the seniors of both teams.