Eagles earn split with Bethune-Cookman
The FGCU Eagles got a two-run home run from Zach Maxfield to erase a 2-0 deficit to win the second game of a two-game series against Bethune-Cookman 3-2 Wednesday.
Maxfield’s blast over the left field fence tied the game at 2-2.
Robert Greene of Cape Coral laid down a sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning, but reached on a throwing error that allowed the winning run to score.
The Eagles earn a split of the series after dropping the first game 10-4 Tuesday in Daytona Beach.
The Eagles (15-13) travel to Macon, Ga., to face Atlantic Sun rival Mercer in a three-game, three-day series starting Friday.
Richie Erath pitched in relief to earn the win for the Eagles. Erath (4-2) threw one hitless, scoreless inning.
Chris Sale pitched the ninth to close it out for his first save.
Jenks a finalist: FGCU senior Cheyenne Jenks is the second Eagles player to be named a finalist for the Amateur Softball Association’s USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award. Carmen Paez was the first in 2008.
Past winners of the award include UCLA’s Stacey Nuveman, Florida State’s Jessica Van der Linden, three-time winner Texas pitcher Cat Osterman, Tennessee’s Monica Abbott and Virginia Tech’s Angela Tincher.
Jenks, the only unanimous 2008 first-team All Atlantic Sun Conference selection and the 2009 Atlantic Sun Preseason Player of the Year, has led the Eagles to a 37-5 overall record (7-1 A-Sun). She has earned conference Player of the Week honors twice during the season.
Jenks currently leads the A-Sun in every major offensive category – batting average (.491), slugging percentage (1.079), on-base percentage (.634), runs scored (52), hits (56), RBI (61), home runs (19), total bases (123) and walks (44).
The ASA announced the 25 finalists Wednesday. The list represents 17 schools and seven different NCAA Division I Conferences. The list is comprised of nine seniors, 12 juniors, three sophomores and one freshman. The 2009 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year will be chosen from the 25 finalists.
A list of 10 finalists will be released on May 6.