FGCU Rallies Past Iowa State, 5-4

The Iowa State softball team fell to Florida Gulf Coast (16-16 overall) on Saturday by a score of 5-4 in Fort Myers, Fla. The Cyclones entered the final half-inning holding a 4-3 lead, but fell victim to an FGCU walk-off home run.

Florida Gulf Coast 5, Iowa State 4
It was a pitcher's dual through the first four innings of the game, as the two teams combined for just three hits in the opening four frames. Both Cyclone base hits were courtesy of lead-off hitter Brittany Gomez. The senior singled and advanced to second on an FGCU error to open the game. She was then moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt from Kirsten Caudle. However, the Cyclones were unable to capitalize on the opportunity and came away empty-handed.

ISU got another strong start from freshman Savannah Sanders, as she handcuffed the Eagle offense early. After a hit in the bottom of the first, Sanders and the Cyclone defense shut down the FGCU attack until the Eagles came alive in the bottom of the fifth. After a walk to lead-off the inning, Florida Gulf Coast got back-to-back singles to load the bases with no outs. Consecutive sacrifice fly balls got the Cyclones a pair of outs, but allowed the first two runs of the game to score. Chandler Middlebrook tallied one more on an RBI single to put the Cyclones in a 3-0 hole.

The Cyclones answered right back with three runs of their own in the top of the sixth. Aly Cappaert singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Kelsey McFarland then stepped to the plate and smashed the first pitch she saw over the fence in left field for a two-run homer, her third of the year. Sammie Hildreth then walked and was moved over to second on a sac bunt courtesy of Nychole Antillon. Hildreth would later score on an ISU fly out, followed by an FGCU throwing error to knot the game at 3-3.

Iowa State tacked yet another run on in the top of the seventh on another Eagle fielding error. With Gomez on second, Cappaert reached on an error by the third baseman, allowing Gomez to score, giving the Cyclones their first lead of the day at 4-3.

However, Louie Ross reached on a Cyclone fielding error to put the tying run on base, followed by a walk-off homer down the right field line by Racquel Fournet to lift FGCU to the 5-4 victory.

On Deck
Iowa State will return home and play its first true home game of the season at the Cyclone Softball Complex on Wednesday, March 23 at 2 p.m. as the Cyclones take on Nebraksa.

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Players Mentioned

Nychole Antillon

Aly Cappaert

Kirsten Caudle

Brittany Gomez

Sammie Hildreth

Kelsey McFarland

Savannah Sanders

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