FGCU Softball vs UC Santa Barbara Preview

The FGCU softball team (14-4) prepare for their next road trip as they fly to the west coast in a doubleheader against UC-Santa Barbara (8-12).

Last Time Out:
The Eaglescompeted in the FSU Unconquered Invitational hosted by #13 FSU. They would fall to #6 Oregon twice (5-0 and 5-1), fall 6-2 to #13 FSU and split with Hofstra, losing 1-2 in the first game and winning 3-2 in the second game.

Major Bennett-fit:
Since transferring from NJCAA Lake Sumter College, junior Bri Bennett has been progressing strongly in the starting lineup. Bennett is currently batting .300 with six hits and seven RB. In the FSU Unconquered Invitational, Bennett went 3-for-10, which included hitting a solo home run against Oregon.

Personal Side Note:
When a mid-major team like us scores a run against a Power 5 Conference team, that's deemed a challenge on it's own. Getting ahead of a Power 5 Conference team is an epic challenge. Hitting a home run off of a pitcher from a Power 5 Conference team like what Bennett did against Oregon, and freshman Farley Callaghan did against NC State earlier in the season, is the stuff of legends. Winning a game against a Power 5 Conference team with one or more these scenarios is banned by the Geneva Convention for about 5 to 10 years.

Closing Records:
Freshman Taylor Bauman has already broken the overall save record in program history since earning the role as a closer for the team.

Scouting UCSB:
This will be the first matchup between the two teams. The Gauchos recently competed in the Citrus Classic in Kissimmee, Florida. They would fall to FIU (6-12), Troy (1-9), Notre Dame (2-10) and Massachusetts (3-7). Their lone win was against Niagara (8-5).

At the plate, sophomore Kayla Krantz, despite batting .222, is leading the team with three home runs and 14 RBI. Krantz was 2-9 in the classic.

Freshman Sammy Fabian leads the team with a .455 batting average and five stolen bases. Fabian was 7-for-14 in the classic with a double and three stolen bases.

On the mound, senior Lena Mayer is 3-3 with a 3.47 ERA with 26 strikeouts and one save. In Mayer's last start, she threw three innings and gave up six runs on six hits while walking one batter.

The games start at 4 P.M. EST/1 P.M. PST and 6 P.M. EST/3 P.M. PST, and Livestats will be available.