FORT MYERS, Fla. – Following one of the most memorable seasons in program history, FGCU softball head coach David Deiros announced the 2017 slate as the program celebrates its 15th anniversary. The Eagles will once again host some of the best in the nation when the calendar turns to February, highlighted by in-state rivals, NCAA Tournament participants and a Top 5 team in the country last year.
The Eagles return the bulk of an ASUN Conference Championship-winning roster, including ASUN Freshman and Pitcher of the Year, Riley Randolph (St. Petersburg, Fla./Northeast HS) and First Team honoree Racquel Fournet (Windermere, Fla./Windermere Preparatory School). The young group of Eagles turned the ASUN upside down last season, turning a sixth-place projected finish into its third regular season title.
In addition to the First Team selections, FGCU returns more than 60% of its offense and 77% of its pitching productivity from the 2016 season.
The 2017 slate for the Green and Blue boasts one of the most difficult schedules in recent history, featuring 19 contests against RPI Top 100 opponents and 16 against NCAA Tournament teams. FGCU will once again host three tournaments in the spring but will also take part in the Triple Crown Sports Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.
“We are very fortunate that we have perfect weather and great facilities to bring in some of the best teams in the country,” 2016 ASUN Coach of the Year David Deiros said. “I think our fans will appreciate the high level of competition we expect to have at the FGCU Softball Complex this season. In addition, our trip to Mexico features five games against top-caliber teams. I am confident that our non-conference schedule will prepare our team for the rigors of competing in the gauntlet that is ASUN softball play.”
FGCU is scheduled to play 55 games in 2017, 47 in the state of Florida and 33 at the FGCU Softball Complex. Of those contests scheduled to take place in Fort Myers, nine are against Power 5 programs including Women’s College World Series participant and the #5 team in the country last season, Florida State.
The Eagles face seven NCAA Tournament teams from 2016, four at home, over the course of the year. Opening day 2017 features the first of those opponents as FGCU meets tournament-tested LIU-Brooklyn Feb. 10 at the FGCU Softball Complex. In the first of three home tournaments, the Green and Blue faces both LIU-Brooklyn and Connecticut twice over the weekend to open the 2017 slate.
The Green and Blue then travel 1552 miles to Puerto Vallarta, joining an elite group for the Triple Crown Sports Puerto Vallarta Challenge. The weekend begins with a matchup with Fresno State Feb. 16, a team that ended the year #17 in the nation, #21 in the final RPI, and a member of the Los Angeles Regional in the NCAA Tournament. The Eagles will face the Bulldogs twice in the three-day span. FGCU then meets Texas Tech to wrap up the first day before focusing on Cal State Fullerton, another Top 25 RPI team and LA Regional representative. The weekend concludes with a contest against Mississippi State before the Eagles head home.
The second home tournament of the year features Power 5 foes Boston College, Rutgers, and Wisconsin from Feb. 24 to Feb. 26. The full weekend schedule sees FGCU open against Boston College before two contests each against Big Ten opponents Rutgers and Wisconsin.
March kicks off with a single game against in-state foe UCF at home, before both the Eagles and Knights head to Orlando for a tournament hosted by UCF. While in Orlando, FGCU meets with Providence in addition to the second contest against UCF coming off another strong RPI ranking (#26 in 2016).
Following midweek contests with Holy Cross and Ball State, the Eagles face Women’s College World Series participants Florida State in Fort Myers, as the Seminoles come off another top 5 ranking. The Seminoles could become the highest-ranked opponent to play at the FGCU Softball Complex. In 2014, defending national champions, #3 Alabama, opened its season in Southwest Florida and remains the highest ranked foe to play at the FGCU Softball Complex.
The final tournament of the spring also signals the end of the bulk of the nonconference play. FGCU welcomes IUPUI, Iowa State, Canisius, Drexel and Cleveland State from March 16 to March 19 before turning its attention to ASUN play.
FGCU’s title defense begins and searches for a fourth ASUN regular season crown begins with a series against Jacksonville March 25 at home before the Eagles travel north to face UNF as the calendar flips to April.
USC Upstate is next on the conference schedule for FGCU. In what could be a crucial series, the Eagles will have the luxury of facing the Spartans at home. USC Upstate defeated FGCU twice in the ASUN Tournament last season after the Eagles took two-of-three during the regular season as the rivalry continues to grow.
Midweek contests at home against FAU and on the road opposite FIU signals the beginning of the longest road stretch of the year. After the doubleheader with the Panthers, FGCU heads north to Kennesaw State. The Green and Blue remain on the road for another high-profile contest at USF. The long road stand concludes with a trip to DeLand for a series with Stetson.
The regular season then concludes as May begins with a three-game series against Lipscomb at the FGCU Softball Complex.
The 2017 ASUN Championships are slated to begin May 10 in Nashville, Tenn. FGCU is searching for its second ASUN Tournament title and NCAA Tournament berth after falling short in the finals last season.
TICKET INFORMATION
Single-game and season ticket prices are still being finalized and will be released at a later date. For more information, please call the FGCU Athletics ticket office at 239-590-7145.
SCHEDULE DOWNLOAD
The complete 2017 schedule can be accessed at the beginning of this release, including options for fans to print a PDF-friendly version and easily download directly to their smartphone and calendar on any tablet for free by visiting the schedule online and then hitting “subscribe” on the top-right corner of the page. For fans viewing on a mobile device, they can easily subscribe by hitting Menu, Sports, All Schedules and selecting 2017 Softball.
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 completed his 14th season as head coach. Hired in 2001 to build the program from the dirt up, Deiros has since guided the Eagles to 12 seasons with a winning record, eight campaigns with 35 wins and a win percentage of .669 (544-268-3). 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.
