FGCU Softball vs Kennesaw Day One Recap

The FGCU softball team (16-12, 2-0 A-SUN) opened conference with a series win as they defeated Kennesaw (17-16, 2-3 A-SUN) 4-3 in nine innings in game one and 5-2 at Bailey Park in Kennesaw, Georgia. With the win, the Eagles are now 23-12 against the Owls.

"It's always tough to win on the road, let alone win the series on day one," said head coach David Deiros. "It was a great team win as we played well in all facets. We'll get some much-needed rest tonight and get back after it tomorrow."

Game One:
For game one, Deiros sent senior Riley Randolph to the mound while KSU head coach Tripp MacKay sent senior Hailey Andrews to counter.

It didn't take long for the Eagles to get on the board first after senior Kate Kelly started the first inning with a leadoff single before sophomore Haley Morrell bolted a two-run shot to center to make it 2-0 FGCU. This was Morrell's third home run of the season.

At the top of the second, the Eagles would send another big fly to left center off the bat of junior Mikenzie Vaughn. This was Vaughn's first home run in an FGCU uniform.

The Owls then manage to catch up to the Eagles and tie the game up at 3-3 with an solo shot from redshirt senior Jessie Mullen in the bottom of the third, her fifth of the season, an RBI double from freshman Katie Greep in the bottom of the fourth and a bases loaded walk drawn by sophomore Lexi Solorzano.

While both teams had a chance to take the lead and possibly win in the seventh, the game went into extra innings. After both teams failed to score in the eighth, the Eagles managed to pull some strings together to take the lead as Vaughn hit a one out single to right center before sophomore Farley Callaghan gave the Eagles a 4-3 lead with an RBI double before getting the win.

Randolph would go to 12-5 after getting the win as she gave up all three runs on seven hits while walking two and striking out nine in a complete.

Andrews would drop to 9-8 after the loss. Andrews would give up all four runs on seven hits while walking two and striking 13.

Morrell, Vaughn and Callaghan were 2-for-4 each while Kelly finished 1-for-4.

Redshirt junior Hannah Thomason was the only Owl in game one with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-5.

Game Two:
Deiros sent sophomore Marissa Mesiemore to the mound while MacKay sent junior Abby Deane to counter.

Once again, the Eagles would score first at the top of the first inning. Beginning with a one-out walk drawn by Morrell before a two-out single by freshman Reedy Davenport and a two-out a walk drawn by senior Brooke Clemens loaded the bases for Vaughn. With a single to right center, Vaughn sent Morrell and Davenport home to make it 2-0 FGCU before being called out at second trying to stretch the single to a double before the Owls managed to get on the board in the bottom of the second from a bunt single from redshirt freshman Christen Florence.

With the score remaining 2-1 FGCU, heading into the top of the sixth, would add another run from a Kelly RBI single that sent sophomore Ahnie Jumper home to make it 3-1, but the Owls would cut the deficit to one yet again from an RBI single from Greep.

At the top of the seventh, the Eagles would add two more insurance runs from a two-run blast to left off the bat of Davenport. This was her fourth home run of the season.

From there, the Eagles would pull away with the win after holding the Owls down in the seventh.

Mesiemore would earn her third win of the season after throwing a complete game while giving up both runs on seven hits while walking one. Mesiemore is now 3-4 on the season.

Deane would drop to 5-6 after the loss after giving up all five runs on eight hits while walking five and striking out two in a complete game.

Kelly, Davenport and Vaughn finished 2-for-4 each. Vaughn would finish the series 4-for-8 with three RBI and four runs scored while Kelly finished 3-for-8 with a run and an RBI.

Senior Racquel Fournet would go 1-for-4 with a run while Clemens went 1-for-1 with two walks. Fournet's base hit, which was a single, was her 201st hit in her career.

Greep was the only Owl in game two with a multi-hit game as she finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and 3-for-7 in the series.

Up Next:
The Eagles look to complete the sweep against Kennesaw Sunday afternoon at 1 pm.