FGCU Softball vs USF Preview

The FGCU softball team (4-0) prepares for their next two home games as they face USF (4-1) in a doubleheader.

Last Time Out:
The Eagles began the season with the FGCU Kickoff Classic Hosted By Four Points Shearton. They would open as the undefeated team in the tournament after getting wins against LIU-Brooklyn (9-6), NC State (7-2), Georgetown (4-2) and Ball State (4-1).

Key Players:
The players that made their for FGCU on the offensive side include junior Racquel Fournet and senior Brittany McGuire.

Fournet, during the tournament, was 7-for-11 ( .636) with two doubles, one home run, three RBI and six runs scored. As a result, Fournet was named A-SUN Player of the Week for her performance.

McGuire also was 7-for-11 (.636) with a double, five RBI and two runs scored.

On the pitching side, sophomore Morgan White and junior Riley Randolph have been strong anchors in the starting rotation.

White, who started in the opening game, is currently 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA. In the game against LIU-Brooklyn, White threw four innings where she gave up two unearned runs on three hits while walking one batter and striking out one. Against Georgetown, White nearly threw a perfect game, but after a fielding error and a two-run homer given up, she was pulled after 6.2 innings and gave up two unearned runs on one hit while striking out two batters.

After being unable to play in the opener, Randolph made her return to the mound in the 4-1 win against Ball State. Randolph gave up one run on one hit while striking out nine batters in 5.2 innings.

Newcomer Debuts:
So far for the Eagles, there have been six players that made strong impacts for their debuts: sophomore Kate Kelly, junior Brooke Clemens, freshmen Marissa Mesiemore, Farley Callaghan and Taylor Bauman.

Despite currently batting .143, Kelly, a transfer from NJCAA Seminole State College, has been on pace as a baserunner. The Cape Coral native is 3-for-3 in stolen bases.

Clemens, a catcher and transfer from Florida, is currently batting .300 for the team. In her debut game against LIU-Brooklyn, Clemens went 2-for-3 with a double and a big three-run homer.

Mesiemore, a pitcher from South Sumter High School, has already two wins for the Eagles. Mesiemore made her debut against LIU-Brooklyn and earned the win after she threw two innings while giving up four runs (one earned) on three hits while walking one batter. In her start against NC State, Mesiemore earned her second win after throw 5.1 innings while giving up two unearned runs on seven hits while walking four batters and striking out four. Mesiemore is currently 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA.

Callaghan, who made her debut as a pinch runner, played at right field against LIU-Brooklyn. In the game against NC State, Callaghan hit her first collegiate home run. Callaghan is currently batting .333 with two hits, including the home run.

Bauman, a pitcher from Atlantic Coast High School, made her debut against LIU-Brooklyn where she threw one scoreless inning. Currently, Bauman is playing mainly as a closer and currently has four saves in all four games she played to her credit.

Scouting USF:
The Bulls opened their season with a 3-0 win over Illinois State. They would follow with wins over Georgia State (5-4), Michigan (3-2) and UAB (6-3) in the USF Wilson Demarini Tournament before falling to 3-14 to #2 Florida. The Bulls are receiving six votes in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll.

Junior Savannah Worrell is currently batting .417 with five hits and five RBI. She went 1-2 with an RBI against Florida.

Freshman Georgina Corrick boasts a 1-0 record with a 1.40 ERA. In her two games played, Corrick had a no decision against Illinois State after throwing 4.2 scoreless inning and giving up two hits and striking out six batters. Corrick threw 5.1 innings against Michigan, giving up two runs on three hits while walking one batter and striking out four.

Series History:
FGCU is 2-8 against USF. The last time both teams played was last season where the Bulls won 1-0 and 9-2 at USF. The Eagles last win was in 2008.

The games will take on Valentine's Day at 4 P.M. and 6 P.M. It is also a blue out as marketing is encouraging fans who attend the games to wear blue.

Live stats will be available as well.