FGCU Softball: Clearwater Invitational Recap Day Two

The FGCU softball team (22-5) wrapped up day two of the Clearwater Invitational splitting a pair with a 3-5 loss to Maine (9-14) and 4-2 win over Lehigh (4-15).

"We had the tying run on base in our last at-bats of both games," said head coach David Deiros. "That's all I can ask of our team and we went 1-for-2 on the day. The trials we are going through now will serve us well when we start A-SUN play next week."

In game one against Maine, Deiros sent sophomore Morgan White to pitch for FGCU while Maine sent Lilly Volk to counter White.

In the first inning, White was able to get the first out after a lead-off walk, but after drawing another walk, Derios would pull White and send freshman Marissa Mesiemore to pitch. After putting in Mesimore, the Black Bears struck first after an RBI double from Alyssa Derrick.

The Eagles remained scoreless until the third inning. After a lead-off double from senior Emily Demurius and an infield single from Kelly, Huff would smack a triple to left center bringing in Demurius and Kelly. Fournet would follow with a sacrifice fly bringing in Huff to give the Eagles a 3-1 lead.

The Eagles held the lead until a three-run shot from Maine's Maddie Decker gave the Black Bears a 4-3 lead. The Black Bears added one more run as Erika Leonard hit a bases-loaded single. From there, the Eagles did not score any more and the Black Bears would win.

Mesiemore would be credited with her second loss of the season as she threw 5.2 innings giving up four runs on eight hits while walking two batters and striking out four.

Kyleigh O'Donnell, who came in relief for Volk, would earn her second win after throwing 4.2 scoreless innings, giving up two hits, walked three batters and striking out three.

Huff went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and one run. Huff also added a stolen base.

Kelly, Fournet, Clemens, McGuire and Demurius had one hit each. Kelly also added two stolen bases.

Hoping to bounce back from the loss, Deiros sent Randolph back on the mound to face Lehigh’s Parker Boyd.

The Eagles would drive in the first run at the top of the fourth. After back-to-back walks drawn from Huff and Fournet, Bennett would drive in Huff on a sacrifice fly. The Mountain Hawks would then tie the game after an RBI single from Rachel Timberman.

By the sixth inning, the Mountain Hawks would take the lead after Nicole Yozzo hit an RBI single of her own.

Going into the seventh, Clemens would hit a two-out single before freshman Riley McCarthy came in to pinch run. Swiderski would then hit a single putting McCarthy at third for senior Erica Ward. The SCF transfer would tie the game for the Eagles with an RBI single. Freshman Ashley Biddle would bring the Eagles back in the lead after reaching on a fielding error while Swiderski scored. Kelly would then bring in Ward for the fourth run which would be the decider.

Randolph would earn a no-decision after throwing five innings, giving up two runs on four hits while striking out four.

Bauman would earn her second win of the season after throwing two scoreless innings, giving up one hit while walking one and striking out one.

Boyd would be credited with her eighth loss as she threw a complete game, giving up four runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out eight.

Kelly and Swiderski had two hits and a run each. Huff, McGuire, Clemens and Ward had one hit each. Huff also added a stolen base.

The Eagles will wrap up their participation as they face Princeton at 11:15 A.M.