FGCU Softball: FGCU Kickoff Classic Preview

With the 2019 season behind them, the FGCU softball team will begin 2020 at home for 17 straight games. They will first begin with the three-day FGCU Kickoff Classic from Feb. 7-9. The Eagles will welcome Delaware, Boston College, Georgetown, Long Island University and U-Conn.

Last Time Out:
The Eagles finished last season 29-22 overall with a 13-7 record in the A-SUN where they finished 1-2 in the A-SUN Conference Tournament that they hosted at the FGCU Softball Complex. During their season, the Eagles earned opportunities to play in exhibition games against the Canadian and Japanese national teams in success and went 3-1 against three Power 5 Conference Schools with two of them being ranked in the Top 25 in the nation.

The team is led by head coach Dave Deiros, who enters his 18th season as head coach. He is joined by third-year assistant coaches Jamie Kertes and Jaime Edwards. Deiros enters with a 642-337-3 overall record.

Losses and Gains:
The Eagles did lose eight players, which included the 2016 A-SUN Pitcher and Freshman of the Year in Riley Randolph and one of their powerful bats in Racquel Fournet. In addition, the Eagles lost Kate Kelly, Bri Bennett and Brooke Clemens as they graduated.

Now sophomores Emily Hess and Kyleigh Taylor have transferred to different universities. Hess has transferred to NCAA DII Nova Southeastern, while Taylor went to NCAA DII Flagler College. Now senior Marcella Parrado has also parted ways from softball.

Despite losing eight players, Deiros did sign nine newcomers, five freshmen (Hannah Shemansky, Johneisha Rowe, Abbey Thomas, Nicole Hayslip and Jordyn Gendron) and four transfers (Maddy Johnson, Sarah Lawton, Hope Hernandez and Emily Estroff). Johnson and Lawton came from NJCAA Florida Southwestern (FSW).

Johnson, a infielder from Lake Wales, Florida, finished last season batting .370 with five home runs and 50 RBI while adding 32 stolen bases (second on the team). In her career with the Buccaneers, Johnson was a two-time member of the Suncoast All-Academic Team, FCSAA All-Academic Team, All-Suncoast Second Team and All-Suncoast First Team while helping the Buccaneers to two runner-up finishes in the NJCAA Region 8 State Tournament. Johnson is automatically eligible and will have two years of eligibility remaining

A pitcher from Waterbury, Conn, Lawton finished her sophomore campaign with FSW with a 12-2 record, 1.36 ERA, seven saves and 102 strikeouts. She joined Johnson as a member of the All-Suncoast First Team while also helping the Buccaneers to two runner-up finishes in the NJCAA Region 8 State Tournament. Like Johnson, Lawton is automatically eligible and will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Hernandez, a junior infielder from Tampa, joined FGCU after spending her freshman and sophomore year at Troy University. She finished her sophomore campaign with the Trojans batting .226 with 21 hits and nine RBI. She will have two years of eligibility remaining.

Estroff, a sophomore pitcher/utility player from Coconut Creek, Fl, spent her freshman campaign at Villanova University. As a member of the Wildcats, Estroff appeared in 13 games batting .250 with three walks and three runs scored. She will have three years of eligibility remaining.

Scouting Delaware:
The Blue Hens finished last season 22-29 overall with a 7-14 record in the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) but did not make it to the postseason.

The Blue Hens lost three seniors on their team, Anna Steinmetz, Sarah Coyne and Miranda O'Donald. Depsite that, they were able to land five newcomers, four freshman (Kate Hondru, Grace Beyer, Grace Rudolph and Emily Winburn and sophomore transfer Kailey Christian.

A pitcher and native of Bradenton, Florida, Christian joined Delaware after spending her freshman campaign at State College of Florida Manatee-Sarasota (SCF) where she led the Manatees to the FCSAA State Tournament after compiling a 22-4 overall with a 2.19 ERA and 196 strikeouts, while batting .366 with a home run and 36 RBI. She was named as a member of the All-Suncoast First Team, Suncoast All-Academic Team and the FCSAA All-State Second Team.

Side Note: I've seen Kailey play at SCF and she is a great pitcher. I mean she's one of only two pitchers I know that have three types of rise balls.

Key returners for the Blue Hens include sophomores Brooke Glanden and Brittany Mendoza and senior Sarah Piening. Glanden finished behind Steinmetz in home runs (7) with a team-leading 30 RBI, while batting .288 and being named a member of the CAA All-Rookie Team. Mendoza finished last season batting .299 with six home runs (third on the team) and 29 RBI (second on the team). Piening finished her junior campaign 14-15 with a 3.92 ERA and 98 strikeouts.

This will be the second all-time meeting between both teams as FGCU narrowly fell to Delaware in 2012, 6-4.

Scouting Boston College:
The Eagles went 18-35 overall and 4-20 in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) last spring. Two returners in Emme Martinez led the attack batting .321, while Susanna Anderson posted six wins to go along with a 3.93 ERA.

FGCU leads the all-time series, 3-1.

Scouting Georgetown:
The Hoyas recorded a 14-35 record in 2019, going 6-13 in the Big East. Their top bat in Noelle Holiday (.347) comes back for her senior year as Diller London earned six wins last season in the circle.

FGCU leads the all-time series, 5-0.

Scouting LIU:
The LIU Sharks are coming off a strong season after going 36-18 overall and 14-2 in the Northeast Conference (NEC). Kiana Cisneros led the Sharks last season with a .376 batting average, while Elena Valenzuela produced 19 wins in the circle with a 2.19 ERA.

FGCU leads the all-time series 12-4.

Scouting UConn:
The Huskies finished their 2019 season going 21-29 and 8-13 in American Athletic Conference (AAC). The team has a number of key players returning – Briana Marcelino (.359), Olivia Sappington (.337) led the squad in batting average. Meanwhile, Marybeth Olson collected 11 wins with a 2.18 ERA.

FGCU leads the all-time series 7-0.

Tournament Breakdown:
Feb 7:
U-Conn vs Georgetown @ 9 AM

U-Conn vs LIU @ 11:15 AM

Delaware vs Georgetown @ 1:30 PM

LIU vs Boston College @ 3:45 PM

FGCU vs Delaware @ 6 PM

FGCU vs Boston College @ 8:15 PM

Feb 8:
Delaware vs U-Conn  @ 9 AM

Boston College vs U-Conn @ 11:15 AM

Delaware vs Boston College @ 1:30 PM

LIU vs Georgetown @ 3:45 PM

FGCU vs Georgetown @ 6 PM

FGCU vs LIU @ 8:15 PM

Feb 9:
Boston College vs Georgetown @ 9 AM

Delaware vs LIU @ 11:15 AM

FGCU vs U-Conn @ 1:30 PM

Livestats will be provided for all the games and will be featured on YouTube.

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDY34tY3Efq3O0Oc4xxbY3g