Eagles beat Bisons, set to face Bears in next round of ASUN tournament
OXFORD, Ala. – Emily Chiarella recorded her fourth three-hit game and 10th multi-hit game of the season as Florida Gulf Coast University beat Lipscomb University 5-3 in the opening game of the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament on Tuesday.
The Eagles scored early with a run in the first of a wild pitch that allowed Chiarella to score from third. The Green and Blue tacked on two more in the second when Kendall Wylie put a ball in play to second base allowing the speedy Camryn Feast to score. Chiarella stepped up to the plate next and brought home Tiffany Meek for the 3-0 lead.
Chiarella continued to be the catalyst for FGCU success when she managed to beat out the throw on a ball to second base, allowing Meek to score the Eagles' fourth run. With Nikki Gibson now on third and Chiarella on first, Chiarella broke for second and the Bisons catcher threw it down but no one was covering, allowing Gibson to score, giving FGCU a 5-0 lead.
Allison Sparkman got the start for the Green and Blue and only allowed two hits through five innings before Victoria Ash came on in relief in the sixth. Ash would continue a phenomenal streak of pitching. She pitched two innings only allowing one earned run on a play that was overturned after review.
With this win, FGCU moves into the double elimination portion of the bracket and will face Central Arkansas on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m. eastern. The Eagles will only play that game, win or lose, before returning to action on Thursday.
Latest Softball
- Flaherty joins softball coaching staff as Assistant CoachFORT MYERS, Fla. - Devyn Flaherty has been added to Florida Gulf Coast University softball's coaching staff as an assistant coach, head coach Lindsay Fico announced today.
- Five FGCU softball players earn CSC Academic All-District honorsFORT MYERS, Fla. – Five Florida Gulf Coast University softball players have been named to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District team, the organization announced today. Avery Viancos, Olivia Black, Emily Chiarella, Victoria Ash and Maddox Thomas were all named to the team.
- Lindsay Fico named new head softball coachFORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Colin Hargis has announced the hiring of Lindsay Fico as the second head coach in the history of the university's softball program.
- Four Eagles named to All-ASUN teamsFORT MYERS, Fla. – Avery Viancos was named to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference first team while Olivia Black, Emily Chiarella and Allison Sparkman were on the second team. This is second time Viancos and Sparkman have been named to an All-ASUN team.
- Viancos and Black named to All-Academic teamFORT MYERS, Fla. – Avery Viancos and Olivia Black were to the All-Atlantic Sun Conference Academic Team. This is second time Viancos and Black have been named to All-Academic team.
- Black, Nelson earn Suncoast Scholar-Athlete honors for AprilFORT MYERS, Fla. - Florida Gulf Coast University Athletics is proud to announce Olivia Black of softball and Jaret Nelson of baseball as the Suncoast Credit Union Scholar-Athletes of the Month for April.
