The FGCU softball team (2-0) opened up their portion of day one of the FGCU Kickoff Classic with a 2-0 win over Kent State (1-1) and a 2-1 win over Penn State (1-1). With the wins, the Eagles are 2-2 against the Golden Flashes and 1-2 against the Nittany Lions. In addition to the win against Penn State, the Eagles won their 22nd game against a Power 5 Conference team, putting their overall record at 22-52.
"Two nice wins today," said head coach David Deiros. "We're the only undefeated team in the Kickoff Classic and it's a great feeling to control one's destiny. Looking forward to competing again tomorrow."
Before FGCU played, Ball State (1-1) opened the classic with a 7-4 win over LIU-Brooklyn (0-2). LIU-Brooklyn remained on the field as they fell to Kent State by a score of 7-1. Ball State returned to the field and fell 10-2 to Penn State in six innings. Kent State head coach Eric Oakley earned his 100th win after defeating LIU-Brooklyn.
Game One:
For game one, Deiros sent senior Riley Randolph to the mound while Oakley sent junior Madi Huck to counter.
It was back and forth battle in the first inning, but Randolph took command with five strikeouts in the first two innings. In the bottom of the second, the Eagles got Huck to buckle. After a lead-off single from senior Brooke Clemens before advancing to second on a wild pitch, freshman Kyleigh Taylor would send Clemens to third on a sacrifice fly. Taylor made her debut after graduating from Deland High.
With Clemens on third, junior Mikenzie Vaughn would send the Florida transfer home with an RBI single to make it 1-0. Vaughn was making her debut after spending her first two seasons at NJCAA FSW.
After Randolph breezed through innings three through five, the Eagles added one more run for insurance. Junior Morgan Greco began with a pinch-hit lead-off single. Greco made her debut after spending two seasons with NJCAA Indian River State. Greco then moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Farley Callaghan and third on a passed ball before senior Kate Kelly reached first on a fielder's choice and stole second. From there, freshman Reedy Davenport hit a sacrifice fly and sent Greco home to give FGCU a 2-0. Davenport was debuting after graduating from Bartram Trail High School.
In the seventh, Randolph did give up a two-out double to sophomore Carlee Selle, but did no damage as sophomore Haley Morrell made a game-saving diving catch to win the game.
Randolph earned the win after a four-hit shutout while walking one and striking out seven.
Huck would earn the loss after six innings, giving up two runs on six hits while striking out three batters.
Clemens would be the only Eagle with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-3 with a double.
Game Two:
For game two, Deiros sent sophomore Marrisa Mesiemore to the mound while Penn State head coach Amanda Lehotak sent junior Hannah Shields to counter.
It didn't take long for the Nittany Lions to score as freshman Chelsea Bisi would send junior Amanda Grieco home with an RBI single, but it didn't take long for the Eagles to bounce back and tie the game. After a one-out triple junior Marcella Parraddo, Callaghan would be the saving grace and send home Parraddo with a sacrifice. Parraddo is making her debut after spending her first two seasons at NJCAA College of Central Florida (CCF).
As both teams battle to the fifth inning, the Eagles got the Nittany Lions to buckle. Lehotak decided to pull Shields and send freshman Bailey Parshall to the mound. Parraddo would start off the bottom of the fifth inning with her second triple of the game which set up the right moment for Callaghan. The former A-SUN All-Freshman Team member laid down a bunt single and set the right moment for Parraddo to score and give FGCU a 2-1 lead.
Other players that made their debuts for the Eagles included juniors Sammi Poehlman and Diane Servideo, freshmen McKenna Batterton and Ashley Hayes.
Poehlman debuted in the first game going 0-for-2 in the first game after transferring from NJCAA Daytona State.
Servideo, a local product of Naples, joins FGCU as a double transfer after beginning her freshman year at Indian River State before transferring to DII Coker College. She was hit by a pitch in the first game.
Batterton joins FGCU after graduating from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Norco, California. In the second game, she went 0-for-2 with a strikeout.
Hayes, another local product from Naples, joins FGCU after graduating from Barron Collier High School. Hayes came in as a pinch runner.
Quotes From Other Coaches:
Penn State: "I'm proud of the way we competed today," said Lehotak. "We played hard in both games and fought to the end."
Kent State: "To reach win No. 100 is a compliment to the team and program I inherited and I'm happy to be a part of such a great tradition," remarked Oakley. "We have a great history at this program and I benefited from a winning attitude and a great campus. I couldn't have done it without this fantastic group of young women that I'm blessed to coach everyday."
Up Next:
The Eagles face LIU Brooklyn (0-2) Saturday afternoon at 2:30 pm, followed by Ball State (1-1) at 7 pm.
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