FGCU Softball vs Wolfpack Recap

A lot of intensity and a lot of fire did not stop the FGCU softball team (2-0) from beating Power 5 North Carolina State (1-1) on day two of the FGCU Kickoff Classic sponsored by Four Points Shearton. The Eagles found the sparks that they needed and tamed the Wolf Pack by a score of 7-2. With the win over, FGCU is now 1-1 overall NC State.

In addition, this was the 25th win for the Eagles against a Power 5 Conference team and the first since March 16, 2017 (vs. Iowa State 7-4)

Before FGCU played NC State, four other games took place. At the 10 A.M. game, Memphis (2-0) played Georgetown (0-2) to begin day two. The Tigers won 8-3, and remained on the field as they played Ball State (1-1), winning by a score of 5-1 for a 12:15 P.M. game.

At 2:30 P.M., NC State played Georgetown winning 12-2 in five innings via the eight-run mercy rule before Ball State played LIU (0-2) winning by a score of 10-2 in five innings via the eight-run mercy rule.

Fast forward to FGCU vs NC State. Freshman Marissa Mesiemore (1-0, 3.50 ERA) was sent to the mound while the Wolf Pack tried to counter by sending sophomore transfer Devin Wallace to the mound.

In the first inning, Mesiemore gave up a single to junior center fielder Jade Caraway. After sophomore left fielder Angie Rizzi grounded into a fielder's choice, freshman catcher Lily Bishop would strikeout. The third out was then made after Rizzi was caught stealing second.

After the Eagles went scoreless, the Wolf Pack tried to score off of Mesiemore once again in the second inning. After a lead off double from junior first baseman Cheyenne Balzer, freshman Timberlyn Shurbutt would fly out. Senior second baseman Alyssa Compton would then walk before freshman shortstop Chandley Garner popped out.

After Mesiemore walked junior designated player Brittany Nimmo to load the bases, she was able to get out of the inning after senior right fielder Macauley Prickett grounded out to third to end the inning.

After both teams went scoreless for the first two innings, the Eagles struck first on the offensive end. Senior outfielder Kelsey Huff started the fray with a lead off bunt single and then stole second. Senior outfielder Nat Lopez would follow with a infield single of her own. After junior first baseman Racquel Fournet struck out and junior catcher Brooke Clemens walked to load the bases, senior Brittany McGuire would bring open the door for the Eagles by hitting a base loaded two-RBI single to left driving in Huff and Lopez. Lopez and Bishop would both be ejected after a scuffle from Lopez crossing home.

Senior catcher LuLu Newmark reached first on a fielder's choice after freshman catcher Riley McCarthy, who pinch ran for Clemens for her debut, was called out at home. Senior second baseman Ashley Swiderski would drive McGuire in for the third before senior Brianne Innamorato lined out to end the third inning.

At the top of the fourth, sophomore Kate Kelly would take over at center field for Lopez while freshman Farley Callaghan took over in right field.

The Wolf Pack also made a defensive substitution as sophomore Haylee Kobziak replaced Bishop as catcher.

The Wolf Pack would score their first run of the game. Compton reached on a fielding error from Fournet to begin the inning. Garner would follow with a infield single. After Nimmo performed a sacrifice bunt, the Wolf Pack would send sophomore Haley Finn to pinch hit for Prickett. Finn would bring in Compton after grounding out before Caraway struck out to end the top half of the inning.

By the bottom of the fifth, the Eagles would score again. After McCarthy grounded out to first, McGuire would hit a one-out single down the middle to begin the inning. Freshman Ahnie Jumper replaced McGuire as a pinch runner. After Newmark fouled out, Swiderski would bring in Jumper with an RBI triple for the fourth run before Innamorato grounded out to end the fifth.

Before the sixth inning started, senior Emily Demurius entered the game to replace Swiderski.

NC State would bring another run to cut the deficit. Compton would begin with a lead off double. After a Garner walk and a wild pitch that brought the runners to scoring position, Nimmo would then strike out looking before Prickett brought in Compton for the Wolf Pack's second run.

This was the signal for the end of Mesiemore as head coach Dave Deiros pulled her out and sent fellow freshman pitcher Taylor Bauman to take over in relief.

Clemens would also come into the game to replace McCarthy and Newmark was moved to DP. After walking Caraway, Bauman would strike out Rizzi before getting Kobziak to line out to end the top of the sixth.

The Eagles added the insurance runs to hopefully seal the deal. It started off with a lead-off walk to senior Erica Ward. Kelly would come back in to pinch run for Ward. After Kelly advanced to third on a wild pitch, Huff would line a single to left and bring in Kelly for the Eagles' fifth run. After Huff was called out after leaving first base early, Callaghan would step up to the plate and hit a solo home run to left center to make it 6-2. This was Callaghan's first collegiate home run.

The Eagles did not end there. After a Fournet double and an advancement to third on a wild pitch, Clemens would bring Fournet home with an RBI single up the middle to make it 7-2.

The seventh inning seemed to make no difference for Bauman. After getting Balzer to ground out, Shurbutt would hit a single up the middle. Compton would reach first on a fielder's choice bringing up Garner, who hit an infield single. It proved no match for Bauman as she got Nimmo to strikeout to end the game.

Mesiemore would earn her second win of the season after throwing 5.1 innings. Mesiemore gave up two runs (one earned) on six hits, walked four and struck out four.

Bauman would earn her second save after throwing 1.2 innings giving up two hits, walking one batter and striking out two.

Huff went 2-for-4 with one RBI and a run scored.

McGuire was 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

Swiderski was 2-for-2 with two RBI.

Callaghan was 1-for-1 with one walk and the solo home run.

Wallace would earn the loss for the Wolf Pack after throwing five innings, giving up five runs on seven hits while walking five batters and striking out three.

Garner and Rizzi had two hits each in the game.

"It was a big team win for our players, really a total team effort," said Deiros. "We used a lot of players like we did yesterday and that's what we're going to have to do. The role may change from day-to-day, but they have to be ready to go ahead and go. Great job by Marissa Mesiemore in her start and Taylor Bauman coming in for the second night in a row to pick up the save opportunity. Also, a huge night for Ashley Swiderski coming in clutch in a couple of key RBI situations, so all in all a big team win for us tonight."

Up next, the Eagles return to action on day three of the tournament as they play Georgetown on Saturday, February 10 at 4:45 P.M and is dubbed a white out as marketing is encouraging fans to wear white to the game.

In addition, The following games will be played before and after FGCU vs GT:
Memphis vs LIU @10 A.M.
LIU vs NC State @12:15 P.M.
Ball State vs NC State @2:30 P.M.
Georgetown vs Ball State @ 7 P.M.

Quotes from Other Coaches from Other Games:
Ball State: "Overall, we saw a lot of great things up and down the depth chart today," head coach Megan Ciolli Bartlett said. "This team is going to be special because of its depth. Our players challenge and push each other to compete, which is what drove us in the second game. We have a lot of athletes who play the game at a high level, and as the season progresses, I expect to see a lot of players making big impacts."

Memphis: "I'm really proud of us for coming out today and getting two wins against good opponents," said head coach Natalie Poole. "We were productive offensively not only from our lefties, but our righties as well. I'm proud of the collective team effort."