Runs were at a premium Sunday afternoon for the FGCU softball team (4-2), who is receiving votes, as the Eagles fell twice. In its first game, the squad dropped a 3-2 decision to LIU Brooklyn (2-3), followed by a 2-0 loss to Ball State (3-2) to end the day. With the losses, the Eagles are now 11-3 against the Blackbirds and 5-2 against the Cardinals.
"We won the tournament, had the best record and if there was anything close we beat them head-to-head so that's what we wanted to come out and do," said head coach David Deiros. "We weren't really sharp in any facet of the game today but we were okay in the circle and on defense. Offensively we didn't do a great job and the scoreboard showed it. We'll work on that this week to get ready for our next tournament."
The Eagles struck first in the bottom of the second against LIU, but the Blackbirds posted a two-run third, proving to be just enough, holding the Green and Blue to just three hits in the 3-2 loss. It was a pitcher's duel in game two as both teams were scoreless through five frames until Ball State broke out with two unearned runs in the top of the sixth en route to the 2-0 triumph over the Eagles.
Game One: FGCU 2, LIU 3
Junior Sammi Poehlman was the first run across the board in the bottom of the second, as sophomore Haley Morrell hit a single up the middle brought the junior transfer in from second base. In the very next frame, LIU tacked on two runs to jump ahead, 2-1. The visitors went on to score one more in the fifth, only to have FGCU respond in the sixth.
Following two walks, a sac bunt from Poehlman moved senior Brooke Clemens and sophomore Taylor Bauman into scoring position. Morrell then reached on an error, allowing Clemens to come home.
Junior Mikenzie Vaughn smacked a leadoff double in the seventh, but FGCU's middle of the order would be retired.
Sophomore Marissa Mesiemore suffered her first loss of the season (2-1) as she scattered four hits while conceding one earned run with three strikeouts.
Senior Racquel Fournet went 1-for-2 at the plate with a double. This was her 48th double of her career and is now two away from passing Cheyenne Jenkins (2006-09, 49) and Courtney Platt (2008-11, 49) as the all-time leader in career doubles.
Game Two: FGCU 0, Ball State 2
Pitching was on display early on as both teams combined for just three hits after four innings with senior Riley Randolph fanning five Ball State batters. The Cardinals broke through in the sixth, taking advantage of an FGCU error which turned into a pair of unearned runs.
Heading into the last inning, the Eagles brought the tying run to the plate twice, but two strikeouts ended the threat of any comeback attempt.
Randolph moves to 2-1, collecting her second complete game with a season-high 10 strikeouts, giving up just one walk.
Up Next:
FGCU will host an invitational, welcoming Lamar, Memphis, and world ranked No. 2 Japan Feb. 15-17.
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