Coming off a 39-win campaign, the FGCU softball team will open the 2019 season hosting four different programs in its annual FGCU Kickoff Classic. The Eagles officially get their season underway squaring off against Kent State at 4:45 pm and will end the night versus Big 10 foe Penn State beginning at 7 pm. Saturday, FGCU will face LIU Brooklyn at 2:30 pm and Ball State at 7 pm. On the final day, the Eagles will play LIU Brooklyn at 11:15 am and Ball State at 1:30 pm.
FGCU returns 11 members from last year, most notably its entire pitching staff which ended the season ranked 16th in the nation in ERA (1.93). Last month, seniors Riley Randolph and Racquel Fournet were named to the A-SUN's Preseason All-Conference list.
Randolph capped off her junior season with a 1.68 ERA making 26 starts in 31 appearances. A two-time A-SUN First Team honoree, the 2016 A-SUN Pitcher and Freshman of the Year fanned 148 batters last season in 171 innings of work, giving her 100 plus strikeouts for a third-straight year.
Meanwhile, Fournet led the squad hitting .361, starting all 56 games for the Eagles. A three-time All-Conference nod – twice on the First Team – the senior sat atop the league last season with four triples, tallied 14 doubles and 33 RBI.
Last season, the Eagles held an RPI as high as 33 and will start the 2019 season receiving votes in the first installment of the NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll.
A-SUN Preseason Coaches' Poll:
The Eagles collected 56 points along with two first-place votes. Conference newcomer Liberty sat atop the poll with 61 points and five first-place votes while defending A-SUN regular-season and tournament champion Kennesaw State was picked third with 47 points, taking the final first-place vote.
Lipscomb (44) was slotted fourth as UNF (24), Jacksonville (22), North Alabama (20), the A-SUN's second newcomer team this year, and Stetson (14) rounded out the eight teams.
Scouting Kent State:
The Flashes ended 2018 with an overall 29-23, going 14-9 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). Kent State returns a bulk of its roster, highlighted by senior Bailey Brownfield who hit .351 and drove in 41 runners. Madi Huck will look to lead the Flashes in the circle this year as she appeared in 35 contests in 2018, going 18-9 with a 2.68 ERA in 180 innings of work.
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between FGCU and Kent State as the Eagles trail the series 2-1.
Scouting Penn State:
The Nittany Lions will look to bounce back this year after going 9-41 a year ago with five of those wins coming in Big 10 play. Their roster features 10 newcomers' altogether, as senior Tori Dubois will look to lead the bunch. Dubois hit .295 last season, driving in 27 runners in 50 games. Madison Shaffer returns to the circle after tossing 118 innings in 26 appearances in 2018.
This will be the first meeting between FGCU and Penn State.
Scouting LIU Brooklyn:
The Blackbirds finished last season with a 22-29 with an 8-8 mark in the Northeast Conference (NEC). Offensively for the LIU, All-NEC outfielders Ryleigh Bermea and Patricia Griffin will look to spearhead the attack. Bermea batted .327 with a team-best seven home runs and 36 RBI while Griffin hit .347 with 26 RBI. In the circle, Victoria Lowe boasted a 5.03 ERA, fanning 65 batters in 104 innings of work.
FGCU leads the all-time series 11-2, as the Eagles snagged a 9-6 victory last season on opening night at home.
Scouting Ball State:
The Cardinals come into Fort Myers as the preseason MAC favorite after going 37-19 overall with a 16-7 conference mark. They return nearly their entire lineup, highlighted by a pair of First Team All-MAC selections in Haley Dominque and Aeshia Miles. Dominique hit .347 a season ago, including three home runs, 14 doubles, and 36 RBI. Meanwhile, Miles posted a 2.00 ERA in 189 innings of work and finished with a 20-10 record.
The Green and Blue hold a 4-1 all-time series advantage over the Cardinals as the Eagles took last season's meeting 4-1.
Green Out:
Fridays' games against Kent State and Penn State are a 'green out' and fans are encouraged to wear green to both games.
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