SCF Sports: FGCU Softball vs UNF Series Recap

FGCU Softball vs UNF Series Recap

The FGCU softball team (37-15, 12-6 A-SUN) claimed their opportunity for a first round bye in the A-SUN Conference Tournament as they swept UNF (24-29, 4-14 A-SUN) 2-1 and 5-0 for games one and two and 2-0 in game three to wrap up the regular season. With the sweep, the Eagles are now 20-13 overall against UNF and earned their second sweep of the season. In addition, the Eagles claimed the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament.

For game one, head coach Dave Deiros sent junior Riley Randolph to pitch against sophomore Morgan Blourne.

Through three innings, Randolph and Blourne entered into a pitchers duo until the fourth inning when the Ospreys struck first on the scoreboard. After getting freshman Taylor Scott to line out, Randolph would give up a solo home run to junior Dominica Cocuzza. This was Cocuzza's second home run of the season.

The Eagles had an opportunity in the fifth inning to score a run, but were unable to do so.

In the seventh inning, however, with the score still 1-0 in favor of the Ospreys, the Eagles were able to tie the game off the bat of senior Brianne Innamorato. The Mullica Hill native would hit a first pitch home run to left to tie the game at 1-1. This was Innamorato's third home run of the season.

"I saw a strike and I hit it," said Innamorato on the game-tying home run. "We were looking at different spots. She (Blourne) was throwing pretty much a little bit of everything, but I saw a strike and I swung. It was pretty much all I was thinking"

The game would go to extra innings until the bottom of the eighth inning. After junior Racquel Fournet reached first on a fielder's choice before senior Emily Demurius came in to pinch run, senior Ashley Swiderski reached on base from a fielding error before senior Brittany McGuire was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Innamorato. With an 0-1 count, Innamorato would send a single to right, bringing in Demurius for a walk-off win.

"I just needed a single at that one point," said Innamorato on hitting the game-winning hit. "I wasn't kind of doing anything special, just get a hit anywhere, anytime, any place will do it."

Randolph would earn her 16th win of the season with an eight inning four-hit complete game, giving up one run while walking one batter and striking out seven.

It was a great, huge win today that's helping us get the second seed in the tournament," said Randolph. "We win tomorrow, we're definitely clinching the second spot, so that'll get us a bye and then we can play on Thursday."

Blourne would be credited with her ninth loss of the season after throwing 7.1 innings, giving up two runs on five hits while walking four batters and striking out five.

Fournet would finish 1-for-4 at the plate with a single.

Innamorato would go 2-for-2 with the solo homer and the game-winning RBI single.

Junior Brooke Clemens, freshman Haley Morrell and sophomore Kate Kelly had one hit each.

After playing only 10 games in the beginning of the season, senior Natalie Lopez made her return to the lineup. Lopez missed a majority of the season due to an ACL tear. The Miami native went 0-for-3 with a walk.

For game two, Deiros sent sophomore Morgan White to the mound to face redshirt junior Sydney Matzko.

The first two innings would be scoreless until the third inning when the Eagles struck first. After a lead-off double from Morrell before advancing to third from a Kelly ground out, Lopez would send Morrell home with an infield single before stealing second. After a Fournet walk, Swiderski would send Lopez home on an RBI single while Fournet advanced to third on a throwing error, making it 2-0 FGCU.

At the bottom of the fifth, FGCU would add their final three runs of the game. After Kelly reached first on a fielding error, senior Kelsey Huff would then follow with single, sending Kelly to third before stealing second. Fournet would bring Kelly and Huff in for the third and fourth runs of the games after reaching on another UNF fielding error. After senior Brittany McGuire reached on another UNF fielding error, Innamorato would bring in Fournet with an RBI single.

In the sixth and seventh, White was seemingly unfazed as the Ocala native finished the innings for the win.

"I think we needed to get these two wins, and this set us up for a good place in the tournament," said Innamorato. "That was definitely our focus the whole time. It wasn't a focus on how we're gonna do it, it just that we needed to do it."

White would earn her ninth win of the season after throwing a two-hit shutout while walking one batter and striking out five.

"Two very strong outings tonight in the circle by Riley and Morgan in their complete game efforts," said Deiros. "Bri did a great job delivering when her name was called and I'm proud of our kids for battling all the way. We're looking forward to honoring our eight seniors tomorrow and ending the regular season on a strong note before the conference tournament."

Matzko would earn her 18th loss of the season after throwing 5.1 innings. Matzko gave up five runs on six hits while walking one batter and striking out six.

Senior Amanda Blanchard pitched a scoreless inning for the Ospreys giving up only one hit.

Huff would be the only Eagle with a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-4 with a run scored.

Swiderski, Innamorato, Morrell and Clemens had one hit each.

Lopez finished the two games 1-for-5 with a walk, one RBI, and one run scored.

"It is an unbelievable feeling," said Lopez on her return. "I didn't want to end the year on the bench, and I feel fantastic. I'm extremely happy."

In addition to the series, it was Lopez's 22nd birthday, so what's the best way than to celebrate Lopez's special day? How about being able to play on the field and get a few at-bats.

"It's a blessing to be able to come back on my birthday and get the two dubs (wins)," said Lopez on playing on her birthday.

Going into the third game, Deiros sent Randolph back to the mound against Blourne.

Prior to the game, the Eagles recognized eight seniors: Natalie Lopez, Emily Demurius, Kelsey Huff, Ashley Swiderski, Brittany McGuire, Erica Ward, Brianne Innamorato and Lulu Newmark. UNF's seniors were also recognized as well: Ashley Niesman, Alex Arciola, Becca Enter, Casey Estes and Amanda Blanchard.

After the intro of the seniors and the lineups were announced, I was given the opportunity to sing the national anthem one last time for the final season softball game for my senior year and of course everyone loved it. Of course, the announcer recognized as one of FGCU's loyalest fans and that I will be graduating.

Getting back on track, the Eagles scored their first run in the third inning. After Kelly hit a one-out bunt single, freshman Farley Callaghan would hit a single to left before Fournet hit a double to center, bringing in Kelly for the first run. This was Fournet's 46th career double and is four away from breaking Courtney Platt and Cheyenne Jenks' career doubles record (49 each).

In the fourth inning, the Eagles would add one final run to the scoreboard. After a lead-off double from McGuire before Demurius came into pinch run, Clemens would hit a double to left, sending Demurius home for the second run, which would be the final run.

Randolph would earn her 17th win of the season after throwing a three-hit shutout while walking one batter and striking out six.

Blourne would be credited with her 10th loss of the season after throwing six innings, giving up two runs on six hits while walking one and striking out seven.

Kelly finished 2-for-2 with a run scored and a stolen base. Kelly was the only Eagle with a multi-hit game. Callaghan, Fournet, McGuire and Clemens had the Eagles other hits.

All eight seniors played in their final regular season game. Huff and Swiderski went 0-for-3, McGuire was 1-for-3 with a double, Demurius had a run scored as a pinch runner, Innamorato was 0-for-2, Lopez drew a walk, and Newmark went 0-for-1. Ward also played in the game at first for Fournet.

"A big congratulations first of all to our eight seniors who played their last home game here at FGCU," said Deiros on the seniors. "Each of them has meant a great deal to this program over the years and I'm proud of each of their accomplishments. Coming out today we knew what was at stake and we got the job done behind great defense and another stellar outing from Riley. We'll enjoy this win and start preparing for another run in next week's A-SUN Championship."

As the regular season comes to a close, the conference tournament seeds are set and listed with their overall and conference records:
#1 Kennesaw State (36-15, 14-3 A-SUN)
#2 FGCU (37-15, 12-6 A-SUN)
#3 USC Upstate (31-17, 10-6 A-SUN)
#4 Lipscomb (32-15, 9-8 A-SUN)
#5 Jacksonville (26-27, 7-10 A-SUN)
#6 Stetson (26-23, 4-11 A-SUN)

Because UNF (24-29, 4-14 A-SUN) lost the last three games of the season to FGCU, while battling for the No. 6 seed with Stetson, they are eliminated from participating in the A-SUN Conference Tournament.

I'm proud of what the team has done this year. Battling through injuries and seeing unexpected moments from the players is quite amazing, and I'm grateful I got to see them play for one last season as a student at FGCU.

Out of the whole team, I only get to graduate with two players at the same time of the same day: Bri Innamorato and Brittany McGuire, but I also get to graduate on the same day as Erica Ward.

I've known Erica since her freshman year at SCF and now being able to graduate with her at FGCU, even if it's at different times, is still a wonderful moment.

I know SCF athletic director Matt Ennis and current SCF head softball coach Mandy Schuerman are happy to see two more SCF alums graduate along with several of her teammates from the 2015-16 season. When I heard that Ward signed her national letter of intent with FGCU after two years with SCF, I was happy for her and I was happy that I wasn't the only SCF alum that was gonna be around athletics.

Thank you so much FGCU Softball for a thrill of a journey and let's finish the tournament strong. FGCU LETS GET HYPE WHOOP THERE IT IS!!!

Below are photos of me taking selfies with the team during their autograph session: