FORT MYERS, Fla. – In a series that will decide who enters the ASUN Tournament as the No. 4 and No. 5 seed, the FGCU softball team split a pair of games against Lipscomb Thursday night. The Eagles (25-28, 7-9 ASUN) remain a half-game back of the Lady Bisons (35-17, 8-9) heading into tomorrow's regular season finale, scheduled for a 1 p.m. first pitch.

"For the nine-inning we played in game one and up to the top of the fifth in game two, I thought we were playing some pretty good softball," said head coach David Deiros. "It just got out of control from us. I'm pretty confident going into tomorrow and of course going into the tournament."

A lengthy, nine-inning ballgame opened the three-game set between FGCU and Lipscomb. The Eagles claimed the early lead on a Natalie Lopez (Miami, Fla./Westminster Christian HS) bases loaded single before LuLu Newmark (Pembroke Pines, Fla./American Heritage HS/Bowling Green) doubled the advantage with a home run an inning later. Lipscomb tied the game in the fourth only for Bri Innamorato (Mullica Hill, N.J./Bishop Eustace HS) to give FGCU the 3-2 win with a base hit in the ninth.

The second game felt very similar through the first four innings, except it was Lipscomb that led 2-0 and the Eagles that used a two-run fourth to tie the ballgame. The Bisons, however, scored five times in the fifth and three more in the seventh to claim the nightcap 10-2.

GAME ONE: FGCU 3, Lipscomb 2 (9 Innings)
After a scoreless first inning, the Eagles pushed the first run across the plate in the second. FGCU loaded the bases with two outs on an Innamorato double, a Brittany McGuire (Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla./Ponte Vedra HS) hit by pitch and a Morgan Sutherland (Naples, Fla./Barron Collier HS) walk. Lopez then stepped in and sent a full-count offering over the third baseman to score Innamorato.

FGCU left the bases loaded in the second, but tacked on a run in the third when Newmark crushed a 2-2 pitch to left, hitting the scoreboard to put the Green and Blue in front 2-0.

Lipscomb, however, tied the contest in the fourth on a shallow pop fly to left scoring two runners. Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) limited the damage, getting the next batter to fly out to end the inning.

Neither side produced a threat through regulation and the game entered extra innings. It wasn't until the ninth that FGCU broke through for the walk-off win. Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School) sparked a two-out rally with a single to right and Newmark followed with a walk, bringing Innamorato to the plate. The shortstop delivered, finding the hole on the left side to bring Fournet home from second.

Randolph (15-9) got the win, tossing all nine innings while allowing two runs on four hits. The lefty also struck out seven in the contest.

GAME TWO: Lipscomb 10, FGCU 2
It was another close contest in the nightcap as the Eagles and Bisons found themselves in a familiar 2-2 tie through four innings but a five-run fifth broke the game open in favor of the visitors.

Taylor Wade (Pace, Fla./Pace HS) was put under pressure in the first following a pair of walks but the senior got out of the jam with a ground out. However, two walks and a single in the second loaded the bases with two outs. Lipscomb scored its first run on a passed ball and loaded the bases once again but on the walk, Newmark threw down to third, behind the runner to pick her off and end the frame.

The Eagles threatened to tie the game in the second, putting a pair of runners on but a ground out kept the Green and Blue down 1-0.

Another Lipscomb run in the fourth made it 2-0, but the Eagles put together a rally in the bottom half to tie the game. FGCU loaded the bases on a Newmark walk, and singles from Innamorato and McGuire. With one out, the Eagles scored their first run on an error before Huff singled to center to bring in Innamorato.

Tied at 2-2, Lipscomb broke the game open with a five-run inning to go in front 7-2. The Bisons later added three runs in the seventh to go in front 10-2. The Eagles had a chance to cut into the lead and spark a late rally following a Fournet lead off triple but the Green and Blue left two on to end the game.

Wade (8-14) suffered the loss, working 4.1 innings while allowing two earned runs on six hits. Gabbee Draney (Miami, Fla./Gulliver Prep HS) entered the game in the fifth and allowed five earned on seven hits.

FOLLOW ALONG
For up-to-the minute information on the FGCU softball program, follow on Twitter @FGCU_Softball and Instagram at fgcusoftball and stay tuned at FGCUAthletics.com.
 
COACH DEIROS
The founding father of FGCU softball, David Deiros recently enters his 15th season as head coach. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to 11 seasons with a winning record, eight campaigns with 35 wins and a win percentage of .669 (569-296-3). Deiros is a former head coach at the 1998 Florida State Runner-up Lely High School in Naples and is the founding head coach of the 1999 District Champion/2001 Regional Runner-up Gulf Coast High School in Naples.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.