The FGCU softball team (13-11) swept day two of the USF Tournament, first taking down Quinnipiac (4-13), 7-4, and finished off the evening downing No. 21 Minnesota (18-8), 4-1, at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex.
"Today we played two great games and I'm very proud of our kids," head coach David Deiros said, "Morgan [White] had a stellar outing in game one against Quinnipiac coming in relief as we rallied from behind. Against Minnesota, Riley [Randolph] had another huge performance in the circle and Farley [Callaghan] came up with a monster triple to clear the bases for us. We played great against another top-25 team and getting the win is not only good for our program but it gives us confidence going into A-SUN play next week."
FGCU 7 | QUINNIPIAC 4
The Bobcats took the early advantage over the Eagles striking with two runs in the top of the first. FGCU though quickly answered as freshman Reedy Davenport laced an RBI single. Senior Kate Kelly began the frame with a base hit, stole second and moved to third on the throwing error. Davenport then hit one up the middle for the run.
QU pushed across two more runners in the third as the Eagles were scoreless until the sixth frame. Looking at one out, Davenport and junior Mikenzie Vaughn were on with a single and a walk, respectively. Junior Sammi Poehlman, who came in as a pinch-hitter, stepped in and drilled a triple to center to clear the bags. Freshman McKenna Batterton kept the inning alive with two away, getting plunked by a pitch. Kelly then brought Poehlman in with a single up the middle and swiped second to put runners in scoring position. Sophomore Haley Morrell brought both runners finding a hole up the middle as the scoring was capped off with a double down the left-field line from Racquel Fournet.
It was more than enough insurance for pitcher Morgan White who entered in the second inning. White (1-1) earns her first victory of the season going 4.2 innings of relief, allowing just one hit in 53 pitches.
Poehlman and Morrell finished with two RBI apiece.
FGCU 4 | #21 MINNESOTA 1
It was a scoreless battle through three innings with the 21st-ranked team in the nation, but the Eagles exploded with a four-run fourth. Morrell drew a leadoff walk as Fournet singled through the right side. Davenport moved both runners over on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt. Brooke Clemens walked to load the bags to set up Vaughn for the RBI single to left. Two batters later with two away, Farley Callaghan cleared the bags with a triple to right to cap off the scoring.
Senior Riley Randolph was in a zone, yielding just three hits with the only run being a home run to left-center in the bottom of the sixth. The Gophers did not go away without a fight as they loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Taylor Chell – who hit the home run one inning prior – stepped into the box but would strike out swinging to end the game. In the process, FGCU snapped the Gophers' five-game win streak.
It becomes Randolph's (10-5) 12th complete outing of the season as she fanned four batters while walking just two.
Fournet finished her night at the plate going 3-for-4 while Callaghan went 1-for-2 with three RBI.
FGCU has now taken down two ranked opponents within the last four days as the Eagles defeated No. 15 Indiana, 3-1, Tuesday night at the FGCU Softball Complex.
Up Next:
FGCU takes on North Dakota State at 11:15 Sunday morning in its only contest of the day.
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