SCF Sports: FGCU Softball vs USC Upstate preview

With Conference starting, the FGCU softball faces another task during conference: USC Upstate.

FGCU (21-16, 3-3 A-SUN) had just recently finished a tough three game road trip against UNF. Despite losing the first two games (0-2, 4-6) on Saturday, they managed to finish with a 5-2 win.

Some of the players that were key in the series against UNF were junior outfielder Kelsey Huff, sophomore left-handed pitcher Riley Randolph and first baseman sophomore Racquel Fournet.

Huff was 3-11 in the series with a triple and two RBIs.

Randolph, in 13 innings, went 1-1 and gave four runs (three unearned) with four strikeouts in the series.

Fournet was 4-12 in the series.

The player from FGCU who has a lot of experience with Upstate is sophomore Caley Chappel. Chappel played for her now conference rival and batted .200 with three RBIs. Chappel also went to last years national tournament.

To scout out the Spartans, players to look at are senior pitchers Holly McKinnon and Lexi Shubert and junior first baseman Karla Beasley.

McKinnon is 16-5 with a 1.06 ERA and in 139 innings, she gave 28 runs on 78 hits, walked 32 and struck out 158 batters.

Shubert is 13-4 with a 1.82 ERA and in 107.2 innings, she gave up 30 runs on 70 hits, walked 30 and struck out 120 batters.

Series overall, FGCU is 10-15 against Upstate including losing last years A-SUN Championship game at the FGCU Softball Complex. Although, if FGCU would have beaten Upstate, they would have to face them a second time to avoid being eliminated, but after losing in the tournament to Upstate earlier before the championship game, it was a win or go home game (no pun intended).

FGCU will face the Upstate three times on Saturday at 4 and 6 pm and on Sunday, they will play at 1 pm, which will also be senior day for five seniors: catchers Bree Tourtillott and Amber Plaza, right-handed pitcher Taylor Wade, utility player Evita Leter, and second baseman and team captain Jeanie Verderese.