FGCU Softball: FGCU Invitational Preview

The FGCU softball team (4-2) remain at home as they host the FGCU Invitational at the FGCU Softball Complex from Friday, February 15 to Sunday, February 17. The Eagles will welcome Lamar (1-5), FIU (4-1) and Memphis (2-3) to the tournament. The Eagles will not play FIU in the FGCU Invitational as they will face them Wednesday, April 10 at 4 and 6 pm at Felsberg Field at the FIU Softball Stadium in Miami. In addition, FGCU, Lamar, FIU and Memphis will also have the opportunity to face the Japanese National Softball Team, the #2 ranked softball team in the world.

Last Time Out:
The Eagles opened the season at home in the FGCU Kickoff Classic. There they defeated Kent State (2-0) and Power 5 Penn State (2-1) on day one and LIU-Brooklyn (7-0) and Ball State (4-0) on day two before falling to LIU-Brooklyn (3-2) and Ball State (2-0) in a rematch.

 In three starts apiece, senior Riley Randolph and sophomore Marissa Mesiemore each went 2-1 respectively. The staff as a whole holds a 0.33 ERA, which is good for third in the nation after the opening weekend.

At the plate, junior transfer Mikenzie Vaughn led FGCU with three RBI as she batted .316, recording six hits, two of them being doubles. So far the only Eagles with a start in each of the six games this season have been senior first baseman Racquel Fournet and freshman shortstop Reedy Davenport.

Scouting Lamar:
Under first-year head coach Amy Hooks, the Cardinals come into Southwest Florida with a 1-5 record as they return five starters from 2018. In six starts this season, Taylor Davis leads the Cards hitting .412 with a team-best four RBI. Savana Guidry and Maddy Myers each have recorded three RBI apiece.

In the circle, Julia Voluntad boasts a 5.73 ERA and a 0-3 record. In four appearances this season, Jade Lewis is 1-2 with a 5.86 ERA.

This will be the first time the Eagles and the Cards meet.

Scouting Memphis:
Natalie Poole enters her eighth season at the helm as the Tigers are 2-3 to start the 2019 campaign. In their most recent win, the Tigers defeated Michigan State 11-9 in the FIU Invitational. Regan Hadley went 6-for-15 at the plate over the three-day stretch, producing 10 RBI. Meanwhile, Samantha Ibison leads Memphis with a .471 batting average.

In the circle, the Tigers featured five pitchers last weekend in Miami. Karli Perque made three starts, posting a 4.80 ERA while Mariah Nichols leads the bunch with a 4.06 ERA as she holds a 0-2 record.

FGCU trails the all-time series 0-2 to Memphis as this will be the first meeting between both ball clubs since 2016.

Scouting Team Japan:
According to the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), Team Japan is ranked No. 2 behind the USA as they will be competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In their most recent tour around the Sunshine State, Team Japan has defeated Florida 8-0 and USF 10-2, both exhibition contests.

Promotions:
Friday's game against Lamar is a 'green out' while the exhibition against Team Japan is a 'blue out'.