FGCU Softball vs #15 Indiana Recap

Facing its first nationally ranked opponent this season, the FGCU softball team (10-10) came away with a split against No. 15 Indiana (22-4). The Eagles rallied to take the first game of the afternoon, 3-1 as they fell in the nightcap, 2-0. With the split, the Eagles are 2-1 against the Hoosiers.

"I promised everyone two great games and both teams delivered," said head coach David Deiros. "Our team played very hard and stood toe-to-toe with one of the better teams in the country and I thought we did a great job. We had our chances to win the second game, but we just couldn't come up with the big hit and they were able to stretch it just a bit. Anyhow, kudos to all of our kids on how hard they fought today."

"It's nice to wrap up this 26-game on-the-road swing, particularly over the last five days we've played seven games so nice to come away with a win," said Indiana head coach Shonda Stanton. "This was the first time all year that we've dropped back-to-back games coming from Sunday off of Furman and then today in the first game. I'm really pleased with this ballclub. We've been on the road for 26 games and we're sitting at 22-4, I would take that any year, any day of the week. I'm really proud of this group and we can't wait to get back and play at Andy Mohr Field in front of our home fans."

FGCU trailed 1-0 after four frames in game one until senior Racquel Fournet produced a bases-clearing double to prevail the Eagles past the Hoosiers, 3-1. In the nightcap, the Eagles' bats struggled to get going as they were limited to four hits while leaving six runners on the bags in the 2-0 defeat. 

FGCU 3 | IU 1
IU was able to take a 1-0 lead after manufacturing one run on two hits in the top of the fourth. FGCU, who left one runner on in each of the second, third and fourth frames, finally broke through with a three-run fifth.

Freshman McKenna Batterton and sophomore Farley Callaghan, who walked and reached on an error, moved over to scoring position following a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Ahnie Jumper. Two batters later with two away, sophomore Haley Morrell drew a walk to load the bases. Next up, facing a 1-2 count, Fournet emptied the bases with a liner to the left-center wall for the 3-1 advantage.

IU threatened in the top of the sixth placing runners in scoring position but a fly out to right would erase any hope. In the final frame, starting pitcher Riley Randolph secured the lead, striking out the Hoosiers' side as she earned her 10th complete game of the season, moving to 8-5 overall.

Randolph worked her way through the Indiana lineup tossing 91 pitches while scattering eight hits and striking out eight batters. Fournet capped off her night going 2-for-3 with three RBI.

FGCU 0 | IU 2
In game two, both teams could not get the bats alive as they combined for just five hits through the first four innings. In the top of the fifth, Indiana produced a trio of singles to come away with one run for the lead.

FGCU tried to rally once more but would strand a runner on second in its bottom half of the fifth. In the sixth, the Green and Blue had a prime opportunity, loading the bases off one hit, one error and a walk but a foul out to the third baseman kept the Eagles off the board. Indiana brought one more runner across in the seventh off sac bunt as two grounders and a strikeout ended the contest for FGCU in the seventh.

Starting sophomore pitcher Marissa Mesiemore (2-4) gets tagged with the loss after going 4.1 innings with one earned run while surrendering six hits.

Sophomore Taylor Bauman and junior Marcella Parrado combined for 2.2 innings of relief.

Up Next:
FGCU will travel up to Clearwater, FL., for the USF Tournament and face five teams in three days beginning Friday at 4:45 p.m. against LIU-Brooklyn.