FGCU Softball @ USF Recap

The FGCU softball team (7-6) fell in a close 1-0 battle to USF (9-7) Wednesday night at the USF Softball Stadium.

"Riley threw a gem," head coach David Deiros said. "Unfortunately for us, so did Corrick. We had loads of chances to score the tying and lead run, but we just couldn't execute. We'll try to be better on the west coast."

The home side scored the only run of the night in its half of the first frame off a sacrifice fly. FGCU collected its first pair of hits in the third and fourth innings. Senior Kate Kelly singled to left with two out as senior Racquel Fournet led the fourth with a double to left.

FGCU attempted one more comeback in the final inning, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate twice. Kelly collected her second hit of the night knocking one up the middle as junior Sammi Poehlman – who was intentionally walked twice during the course of the contest – found her way on via a fielding error. But USF's starting pitcher Georgina Corrick ended the Eagles' threat with a strikeout in the 1-0 final.

In total, the Eagles stranded eight runners on the bases.

Besides conceding only her second earned run of the season in the first, senior starting pitcher Riley Randolph tossed six innings of three-hit softball. The St. Petersburg native finished with 11 strikeouts, giving her six-straight contests with at least nine strikeouts while only walking one Bull. She now moves to a 5-3 record in the losing effort.

Fournet's double was the 49th in her career and has tied Cheyenne Jenkins (2006-09, 49) and Courtney Platt (2008-11, 49) for most career doubles. One more will make her the all-time leader in career doubles.

Up Next:
FGCU will travel to San Diego, CA., to participate in the San Diego Classic from Mar. 1-3 followed by a contest against San Diego State on Mar. 5.