FORT MYERS, FLA. — Despite outhitting the Eagles six hits to three, the Royals weren't able to seal the deal against Florida Gulf Coast in the final game of the series, falling 1-0.
In yet another pitcher's duel inside the FGCU Softball Complex in Fort Myers, Florida Gulf Coast broke the scoreless tie with a run scored in the bottom of the second inning after Annalyn Duncan was caught in a pickle trying to steal. She was eventually tagged, but the runner at third, Olivia Black, was able to score.
Autumn Courtney finished up her day in the circle with eight strikeouts while the duo of Ally Hulme and Angelina Bonilla for FGCU combined for five strikeouts. After Ally Hulme allowed five hits from the Royals — including threatening back-to-back hits from Kasidi Staley and Ashlyn Mickler in the top of the fifth — Bonilla came in relief and finished out the 1-0 victory.
Queens' four other hits came from an early first-inning single from Abby Craver, a single up the middle from Kiana Termine in the top of the second inning, a third-inning laced double from Haley Hmiel, and a single to center from Brooke Piper in the top of the seventh.
Termine and Staley each went 1-2 at the plate on Sunday.
FGCU only tabbed three hits against Courtney, including a single in the bottom of the first and two singles in the bottom of the second.
REMARKS FROM HEAD COACH KELLA GOINS
"I think we were able to put good barrel on ball," Goins said postgame. "Although it didn't seem that way, we out hit them in Game 3, we just were not able to string them together. I think this shows the girls that they can hang with the best of them in this conference."
UP NEXT
Up next, the Royals take a break from conference play to head to Winthrop on Wednesday to face the Eagles for a 4:00 PM start in Rock Hill.
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