FGCU Soffball vs Jacksonville Day One Recap

 The FGCU softball team (22-16, 7-3 A-SUN) defeated Jacksonville (13-27, 1-9 A-SUN) by a score of 3-2 Saturday afternoon at the FGCU Softball Complex. Due to rain following game one, both teams will play a doubleheader Sunday morning beginning at 11 a.m.

"Riley [Randolph] was great in the circle today keeping the Jacksonville bats' at bay," head coach David Deiros said. "We had some great timely hitting today from Kate [Kelly], Racquel [Fournet], and Brooke [Clemens] in the sixth to put us in front. Overall good performance and we're looking forward to tomorrow's doubleheader."

It was a pitcher's duel early on as FGCU registered one hit through four frames. Meanwhile, in the circle, Randolph struck out the first six batters she faced. In the process, she produced a new career single-season high in the first with her 161st strikeout of the season, a mark she set back in 2017 (160).

FGCU's offense began to turn its wheels in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Kate Kelly ripped a leadoff double through the right side for her second hit of the game. Two batters later, senior Racquel Fournet plated Kelly home on a single down the right-field line. Junior Sammi Poehlman ran for Fournet as freshman Reedy Davenport stepped in and produced an infield hit to put runners on the corners. Freshman Ashley Hayes would run for Davenport and steal second.

Facing runners now in scoring position, senior Brooke Clemens connected on a double to score both runners for the 3-1 lead.

Jacksonville tacked on a run in the top of the seventh and had runners on the corners with two away but a pop fly to right sealed the win for the Green and Blue.

Randolph moved to 14-7 as she fanned eight Dolphins while scattering three hits in her 16th complete outing of the year.

Up Next:
FGCU will play its doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 11 a.m. Game two is scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.