For the A-SUN Conference Softball Tournament, four teams remain in the tournament: #1 Kennesaw, #2 FGCU, #3 Upstate and #4 Lipscomb. The two teams that have been eliminated are #5 Jacksonville and #6 Stetson. Stetson is the host of this years conference tournament.
After awaitin the winner of the first round game between #3 seed Upstate and #6 seed and host Stetson, the FGCU softball team (39-15), who is the #2 seed in the A-SUN Conference Softball Tournament, took on Upstate (32-18) in a winning fashion as they won 6-1 at the Patricia Wilson Field in Deland, FL, hosted by Stetson. With the win, the Eagles are now 12-21 against the Spartans and advanced to the winners bracket of the tournament.
Deiros sent junior A-SUN All-Conference First Team member Riley Randolph to the mound while Spartans head coach, Chris Hawkins sent junior A-SUN All-Conference Second Team member Christina Biggerstaff to counter against Randolph.
Despite walking junior A-SUN All-Conference Second Team and A-SUN All-Academic Team member Ansley Gilstrap and hitting junior Kristen Wright in the first inning, Randolph was able to escape out of a jam with two strikeouts to senior A-SUN Player of the Year and A-SUN All-Conference First Team member Karla Beasley and junior A-SUN All-Conference First Team and A-SUN All-Academic Team member Brittany Case. Biggerstaff was just as effective as she got a 1-2-3 inning.
At the top of the second, there was controversial call with the lead-off batter. Freshman Hannah Davis was what looked like being hit by a pitch, but home plate umpire Greg Muir ruled it a strike and then Davis flew out to center. Now with the call in a unbiased perspective, Davis should have sent to first because she was hit by a pitch from my view, so Muir, in an honest opinion, made a very bad call. Obviously I want FGCU to win, but seeing bad calls like that from any umpire is not good for the A-SUN. That's just me though.
Resuming with the game, the Eagles would get on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second inning. Senior Brittany McGuire opened the floodgates with a line drive solo home run. This was McGuire's fourth home run of the season. After senior Ashley Swiderski reached first on a fielding error and senior Brianne Innamorato drew a one-out walk, freshman Haley Morrell would hit a double to right center, bringing in Swiderski, but was unable to bring Innamorato in as she was tagged out at home plate.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Eagles would add more runs to the scoreboard beginning with a lead-off single off the bat of McGuire. After Deiros sent senior Emily Demurius to pinch run for McGuire, junior Brooke Clemens would draw a one out walk, bringing up Innamorato. With a 1-1 count, the Mullica Hill native hit a three-run shot to left to make it 5-0 FGCU. This was Innamorato's fourth home run of the year and it signaled the end for Biggerstaff. Hawkins would send freshman Caylie Van Auken to finish off the inning.
Even after giving up a lead-off double in the fifth, Randolph seemed unfazed, but in the sixth, the Spartans finally got on the scoreboard. After a one-out single off the bat of Wright, Beasley would reach first on a McGuire fielding error. A-SUN All-Freshman Team member Logan Morris would then hit a fielder's choice sending Wright to third while Beasley was called out at second. The Spartans attempted a double steal with Wright stealing home and putting the Spartans on the board while Morris went back to first safely before Case struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Eagles would add one more run to the board as Clemens would clock her second home run of the year with a shot to left.
After giving up a one out single, Randolph, still seemingly unfazed, was able to get out of the seventh striking out sophomore Erin Hill before getting senior Kendsey Chappelear to pop out on the first pitch to end the game.
Randolph earned her 18th win of the season, putting her record at 18-6. Randolph threw three-hit complete, giving up one unearned run while walking two batters and striking out six.
Biggerstaff was credited with her 10th loss of the season, putting her record at 16-10. Biggerstaff threw 3.1 innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on four hits while walking two and striking out three.
Van Auken gave up one run on three hits while striking out one batter in 2.2 innings of relief.
McGuire was 2-for-3 at the plate with the solo home run and a single.
Clemens was 1-for-1 with the solo shot, a walk and two runs scored.
Innamorato was 1-for-2 with yhe three-run shot and a walk.
Morrell was 1-for-3 with the RBI double.
Sophomore Kate Kelly and senior Erica Ward also contributed to the game. Kelly was 1-for-2 with a single and a stolen base while Ward, who came in to pinch hit for Kelly, hit a double to right center.
"Great job today by our entire team," stated head coach David Deiros. "Riley showed lots of guts in the circle and Brittany, Haley and Bri had some great swings."
With the loss, the Spartans were sent to the losers bracket to face JU.
Going into the following game, #1 seed Kennesaw State (37-15) would face #5 seed Jacksonville (27-28). Head coach Erica Ayers would send sophomore Alyssa Bilodeau to pitch for the Dolphins while A-SUN Coach of the Year, Pete D'Amour, sent A-SUN All-Conference First Team member and A-SUN Pitcher of the Year Alley Cutting to pitch for Kennesaw.
The Dolphins would get on the board first in the first inning. After a one-out single from senior A-SUN All-Academic Team member Danielle Baker, senior A-SUN All-Conference First Team and A-SUN All-Academic Team member Heather Roberts would hit a two-run shot to center, giving the Dolphins an early 2-0 lead, however, the Owls would then take the lead. After back-to-back singles from sophomore A-SUN All-Conference Second Team member Olivia Tamewitz and A-SUN All-Freshman Team member Alexa Solorzano, Solorzano would steal second while Tamewitz scored on a throwing error. Junior A-SUN All-Conference First Team member Kira Czyrklis would then send Solorzano home with an RBI single. After A-SUN All-Conference First Team and and A-SUN Freshman of the Year Patricia Awald drew a walk and junior A-SUN All-Conference Second Team member Maddie Roth would hit a single to load the bases. After senior Nicole Winkles grounded out, redshirt junior Jessie Mullen would give the Owls the lead with an RBI groundout.
The Owls would add two more runs in the bottom of the third. After a two out single from Roth, Winkles would drive a two-run shot to right center. This was Winkles' seventh home run of the season.
At the top of the fourth, the Dolphins would cut the deficit to being down two runs. After a two out walk drawn by A-SUN All-Freshman Team member Hannah Roberts, senior Jordan Daniels would hit a single of her own. After sophomore Makenzie Buss was hit by a pitch to load the bases, senior Kristen Griffith would draw a bases-loaded walk bringing in Roberts to make it 5-3. The Owls would then extend the lead. Beginning with a one out single from sophomore Andrea Summey before advancing to third on a ground out and a wild pitch, Solorzano would send Summey home with an RBI double before Czyrklis hit a two-run shot to left center to make it 8-3, which would end up to be the final score. This was Czyrklis' eighth home run of the season.
Cutting would earn her 15th win of the season, putting her record at 15-8. Cutting threw four innings, giving up three runs on six hits.
Redshirt senior Abigail Green would earn her first save after throwing three scoreless innings, giving up two hits while striking out five batters.
Bilodeau was credited with her 12th loss of the season, putting her at 15-12. Bilodeau did not complete one inning after giving up three runs on three hits.
Sophomore Seana Mora threw 3.2 innings, giving up five runs on seven hits while walking one batter.
Freshman Maddie Kaufman threw 2.1 scoreless innings while giving up four hits.
Seven Owls had 2 hits each: Tamewitz (2-for-4, one run scored, one stolen base), Solorzano (2-for-4, one RBI), Czrklis (2-for-4, one home run, three RBIs), Awald (2-for-3, one walk), Winkles (2-for-3, one home run, two RBIs) and Summey (2-for-3, one run scored).
For the Dolphins, senior Allie McCourt and He. Roberts had two hits each. Baker, senior Madison Ragan, senior Jordan Daniels and Buss had one hit each.
With the loss, the Spartans and the Dolphins were sent to the losers bracket and played later at 5:30 P.M. while the Hatters faced the Bison at 3 P.M.
In the first game of the losers bracket, Lipscomb would beat Stetson 4-1, eliminating the Hatters from the tournament. The Hatters would finish their season 26-25.
“We were really disappointed yesterday. That was probably my biggest message to them. It wasn’t anger, it was just disappointment.We were prepared coming in. We felt as good of an energy coming into the tournament as I’ve felt in a while and felt like we had been playing pretty well as of late, but we came out tentative and unsure at the plate," said Lipscomb softball head coach Kristin Ryman. “Pitching-wise, we weren’t sharp. We made some uncharacteristic defensive mistakes. Nothing was really going our way. I told them, we have to come out, set the tone better, and we’ve got to fight.”
Senior Chloe Yeager would earn her 10th win of the season after throwing a six-hit complete game giving up one unearned run and striking out four batters.
“I thought she threw great. She did exactly what we needed her to do. Getting a complete game out of her was really big so that some of our other pitchers could rest," said Ryman on Yeager. "She’s just that pitcher that gives teams fits, keeps people off balance, and just moves the ball. She’s not a strikeout pitcher, but I thought the defense did a great job behind her. She had their number all day.”
Junior Jordan Fortel was 4-for-4 with a double and an RBI, senior A-SUN All-Conference Second Team member Caitlin Plocheck was 3-for-4 with a run scored, sophomore Peyton Ward was 1-for-1 with two walks and an RBI, and senior A-SUN All-Academic Team member Abby Fenichel was 2-or-4 with a run scored.
Sophomore Hannah Devault finished 2-for-3 with a two-run homer she hit to left center. It was Devault's fifth home run of the season.
“I thought the whole middle of our lineup hit the ball well. Hannah obviously was the big spark with the home run early in the game. Jordan Fortel was 4-for-4 and had a great game. Plocheck had a great game. Peyton Ward had some key at-bats. Abby was on base a lot.”
In the other game, Upstate defeated JU 2-0. Hill would earn her 10th win of the season after throwing a three-hit shutout with three strikeouts. The Dolphins would finish their season 27-29.
"It was a tough day at the ballpark for us. We came out swinging in the first game and just weren't able to keep Kennesaw State from scoring. The second game, [USC Upstate pitcher] Erin Hill kept us off balance and we just couldn't muster enough offense to get it done," stated head coach Erica Ayers following the Dolphins' second game of the day."
"I'm extremely grateful for everything the seniors gave to this program for four years and everything they gave us this year. Team 16 will have a special place in my heart forever. While I'm heartbroken this season is over, I'm excited for the future of Dolphin Softball and to get to work on Team 17."
With the loss, Stetson, the host of the tournament, and JU would be the first two teams eliminated from the tournament.
The Eagles will face Kennesaw tomorrow at 12:30 P.M. while Lipscomb and Upstate play at 3 P.M.
If Lipscomb or Upstate lose tomorrow, then they will be third team eliminated from the tournament. In addition, if Upstate were to lose, they will not only be eliminated from the tournament, but will not be defending the A-SUN Conference Championship and end their final season in the A-SUN before moving to the Big South Conference.
If the Eagles lose to Kennesaw, then they will be sent to the losers bracket and try to avoid elimination.
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