"It was a great way to open up the conference season," said head coach David Deiros. "A gutsy performance from our team the entire weekend as we look forward to our A-SUN home-opener next Saturday."
Deiros sent senior Riley Randolph to the mound for the series finale while KSU head coach Tripp MacKay sent senior Hailey Andrews to counter.
Both teams exchanged a run in the first inning as senior Racquel Fournet, who reached on a fielding error and advanced to third from a double by junior Mikenzie Vaughn, scored on a passed ball while senior Maddie Roth scored on a wild pitch.
After a scoreless second, the Eagles would take the lead at the top of the third as Fournet launched a solo shot to right on the first pitch to give the Eagles a 2-1 lead. This was Fournet's first home run of the season.
Meanwhile, Randolph would make history for herself in the bottom of the third as she passed Rachael Edinger (638.1, 2006-08) as the all-time leader in career innings pitched.
At the top of the fourth, the Eagles would add an insurance run from sophomore Farley Callaghan as she hit a double to right center that brought in fellow classmate Taylor Bauman to make it 3-1 FGCU.
Kennesaw would cut the Eagles lead by one again in the bottom of the fifth as redshirt senior Jessie Mullen launched a solo shot to left for her sixth home run of the season, but FGCU would bounce back with insurance at the top of the seventh. Bauman began with a leadoff walk before classmate Ahnie Jumper hit a bunt single to move Bauman to second for freshman McKenna Batterton, who laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners for junior Marcella Parrado. Parrado would reach on a fielding error while Bauman and Jumper scored to give the Eagles a 5-3 lead.
From there, Randolph was on pace to finish the game. Despite putting two runners on base from a single and a fielding error, the St. Petersburg native was unfazed as she put the Owls away.
Randolph would go to 13-5 after throwing her 14th complete game this season while giving up two runs (one earned) on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Randolph's win was her 65th career win and is 11 away from passing Edinger (75, 2006-08) as the all-time leader in career wins.
Andrews would fall to 9-9 after earning the loss throwing a complete game, giving up all five runs (two earned) on five hits while walking two and striking out eight.
Fournet finished 1-for-3 with two runs and the home run. Fournet's home run was her 17th in her career and her 202nd career hit.
Kelly and freshman Reedy Davenport were also 1-for-3 at the plate while Callaghan finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.
Mullen and redshirt freshman Christen Florence finished with two hits each.
In addition to the win, Deiros is two wins away from reaching 400 career wins as an NCAA DI coach.
Up Next:
The Eagles return home to the FGCU Softball Complex as they welcome Liberty (19-13, 3-3 A-SUN) for conference play with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 30 at 2 and 4 pm and Sunday, March 31 at 1 pm.
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