Before FGCU played, Southern Illinois (6-4) began the invitational defeating Wright State (0-7) 6-3 and U-Conn (5-6) 5-4. Wright State would return to the field and fell to Stony Brook (1-1) by a score of 2-5.
Fast forward to FGCU vs U-Conn. Head coach Dave Deiros sent junior Riley Randolph (4-0, 1.14 ERA) to the mound to pitch for FGCU while head coach Jen McIntyre attempted to counter by sending sophomore Katie Koshes (1-2, 4.38 ERA) to pitch for U-Conn.
Randolph was off to a shaky start at the top of the first as she gave up a lead-off home run to redshirt freshman Olivia Sappington. Randolph was able to get one strikeout afterwards. Randolph would then strikeout two more batters at the top of the second inning.
In the bottom of the second, the Eagles struck back at the Huskies. Junior Brooke Clemens began with a lead-off single to center before advancing to second on a fielding error. After senior Ashley Swiderski drew a walk and senior Brittany McGuire was hit by a pitch to load the bases, senior Erica Ward had no problem bringing the first two runs for the Eagles as she clocked a base-loaded two RBI single down the middle, driving in Clemens and Swiderski.
McIntyre would pull Koshes and send senior Chelsea Eckert (1-0, 1.79 ERA) in relief. Eckert began with a walk to freshman Farley Callaghan to load the bases once again for the Eagles for senior Bri Innamorato. The Mullica Hill, New Jersey native drove in McGuire for the Eagles' third run on a sacrifice fly.
The onslaught did not end for the Eagles however. After senior Kelsey Huff was walked to once again load the bases, junior Racquel Fournet drove in Callaghan and Huff on a bases-loaded two-run single before Clemens flied out to end the inning.
At the bottom of the third, Swiderski would begin the onslaught with a lead-off solo home run for her third of the season to give the Eagles a 6-1 lead, but the Huskies would attempt to counter at the top of the fifth as sophomore Devon Casazza drove in the second run on an RBI single. By the top of the sixth inning, Randolph would give up another home run to freshman Maura Glatczak for the Huskies third run of the game.
Hoping to add insurance, Callaghan began with a lead-off single and advanced to second on a throwing error. After Innamorato moved Callaghan to third on a sacrifice bunt, Huff would then hit an infield single to send Callaghan home and steal second afterwards. After senior Natalie Lopez reached on fielder's choice and stole second as well, Fournet had no problem bringing in Huff and Lopez with another two-RBI single.
Freshman Taylor Bauman (0-0, 0.00 ERA, 6 saves) would come in for Randolph for a non-save situation. Bauman did struggle briefly, but brushed it off and ended the inning for another Eagles win. The Eagles are now 4-0 against the Huskies.
Randolph would get the win after throwing six innings while giving up three runs on seven hits while striking out seven batters.
Bauman threw one scoreless inning and with one strikeout.
Koshes was credited with her third loss for after throwing one inning and giving up four runs on two hits while one batter and striking out one.
Fournet, who played designated hitter for the game, finished 2-for-4 with four RBI. Fournet had the only multi game for FGCU.
Ward, who played first base, went 1-for-3 with two RBI.
Swiderski was 1-for-1 with one RBI, two walks and two runs scored.
Going to game two, the Eagles took on the Seawolves. Deiros sent sophomore Morgan White (1-0, 0.29 ERA) to pitch for the Eagles while head coach Megan T. Bryant sent sophomore Taylor Pechin (0-1, 1.17 ERA) to counter for the Seawolves.
After both teams failed to score in the first, the Eagles would strike the first run at the bottom of the second. After a McGuire single, senior Lulu Newmark moved McGuire to second on a ground out. After freshman Haley Morrell struck out, sophomore Kate Kelly would reach first on an error while McGuire advanced to third. Kelly would then steal second, and after a throwing error from the catcher, McGuire scored the first run before Huff flew out to end the inning.
The Seawolves would then score their first run of the game at the top of the fourth. After senior Ilena Torres led things off with a lead-off single, sophomore Melissa Rahrich would advance Torres to second on a ground out before junior Irene Rivera drove in Torres on an RBI single. The Seawolves almost took the lead in the game after a double from sophomore Riley Craig, but thanks to solid teamwork from Huff, Morrell and Newmark, the Seawolves were unable to take the lead.
At the top of the sixth, with two outs, freshman Marissa Mesiemore (5-0, 0.51 ERA), who took over for White with twos out was able to get Rivera to ground into a fielder's choice for the third.
At the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles managed to regain the lead. After Clemens struck out and Swiderski fouled out to the catcher, McGuire would reach first on an infield single. Freshman Ahnie Jumper would pinch run for McGuire before advancing to second after a single from Newmark, bringing up junior Bri Bennett to pinch hit for Morrell. On a 1-0 count, the Lake Sumter College transfer would bring Jumper in for the Eagles second run of the game before Ward grounded out to end the inning.
"My job was to get the ball on the ground and get a run in," said Bennett. "We had a good job from Ahnie Jumper that really helped us out with the RBI."
Mesiemore remained in the game for the seventh, but started to struggle. After Craig reached first on a fielding error and junior Katelyn Corr reached first on a single advancing Craig to third, Mesiemore would get junior Ally Dabroksi to strikeout looking before walking sophomore Allyssa Malony to load the bases.
This signaled the end of Mesiemore's time on the mound as Deiros sent Bauman to pitch. Bauman would get freshman Nicole McCarvill to strikeout swinging before sophomore Jourdin Hering grounded out to Fournet to end the game.
"Just a fantastic job all the way around by our entire roster," said Deiros. "All the kids we were able to be put in executed their roles and I'm really proud of them. Congratulations to Taylor Bauman for setting the FGCU single-season save record in 10 games and we're looking forward to bigger and better things from everyone moving forward."
Mesiemore would be credited with the win after throwing two-thirds of an inning while giving up one hit and walking one batter and striking out one.
Bauman would be credited with her seventh save of the season after throwing two-thirds of an inning while striking out one batter. Bauman's seventh save was set as a new season record as she passed Rachael Edinge for most saves.
Bauman is three away from passing Dana Frantz (nine saves) for most saves in a career.
"I know my job is, as closer, is to get out and get the game done. That's one of my main goals," said Bauman. "When I go in there, I just kind of think 'just get the outs in, let's get out of this so we can get the win'."
"It's very exciting," Bauman added. "So I'm excited to see how the season goes."
Pechin was credited with the loss after throwing six innings and giving up two runs (one unearned) on seven hits while walking two batters and striking out three.
"All in all, we had a solid first day and we competed hard in both games. It was great to see both pitchers give us 7 innings on day one, and offensively we did a lot of good things," said Bryant.
McGuire had the only multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Fournet (1-for-3), Lopez (1-for-3), Newmark (1-for-2, one walk) and Bennett (1-for-1, one RBI) had the only other hits.
Up next, the Eagles continue with day two of the invitational as they face Wright State at 4:45 P.M. before facing Southern Illinois at 7 P.M. Before FGCU's games, three games will be played prior: Wright State vs U-Conn at 10 A.M., U-Conn vs Stony Brook at 12:15 P.M. and Stony Brook vs Southern Illinois at 2:30 P.M.
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