FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Newberry College softball team dropped two 3-0 decisions to Florida Gulf Coast University today at the final day of the FGCU Tournament in Fort Myers, Fla.  The Lady Indians fought hard battles in both contests, but the Eagles were able to fly away late in both games.  Newberry falls to 7-16-1 overall, while Florida Gulf Coast moves to 25-4.

The Lady Indians hung tight in game one but couldn’t punch through any runs as the Eagles prevailed 3-0.  Florida Gulf Coast opened up the scoring in the third with a run off an RBI double from Roz Tyre (Lake City, Fla.).  Jessica Jackson (Batesburg, S.C.) got Newberry’s first hit of the game in the fourth, but the Lady Indians couldn’t score runners on third base in the fifth and sixth innings to make it interesting.  Jackson’s triple in the sixth went to no avail.  

The Eagles rallied with two outs in the top of the seventh to score two insurance runs, making the final tally 3-0.  Christina Kirby (Delmar, Del.) got the loss and moves to 3-6 on the season.  Rachael Edinger (Lakeland, Fla.) (11-2) picked up the win.  The Eagles left 12 runners on base for the game.

In the nightcap, Newberry battled through four innings of scoreless play until the Eagles scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth.  Jackson started off the game with a single and Kirby later followed with one of her own, but Newberry was unable to score the runners.  Crystal Renfro (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) and Jackson helped the Lady Indians rally in the fifth with singles, but were once again left on base.

Florida Gulf Coast answered the Newberry rally with all three of their runs in the fifth, thanks to an RBI single from Cheyenne Jenks (Naples, Fla.) and a two-run single from Christine Beck (Hudson, Fla.).  The Lady Indians were unable to put together a late rally as the last two innings went three up, three down. 

McKenzie Phillips (Wallace, N.C.) (3-7) was charged with the loss, while Dana Frantz (Brighton, Mich.) (3-0) picked up the win. 

Next up for the Lady Indians is the Francis Marion Tournament in Florence, S.C., on March 10-12.  Newberry will face Francis Marion University on day one of the tournament at 4 p.m.  They will close the day with a match-up with Goldey-Beacom College at 6 p.m.