Howard, Gilbert Mash Pirates to Victory Over FGCU

Friday, February 14

Fort Myers, Fla.

6:30 PM

Seton Hall University

3-3

Florida Gulf Coast

4-6

Seton Hall

FGCU

2/14/2025 9:53:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Powered by home runs from Olivia Gilbert and Erin Howard, the Pirates (3-3) mashed FGCU, 7-3, to close out the first day of the FGCU Invitational at the FGCU Softball Complex.

How it Happened
Much like their first game of the day, the Pirates jumped out to the early lead in the first inning. This time, it was Olivia Gilbert driving Katey Brennan home after her lead-off walk to put The Hall up 1-0 by the end of the first. In the third inning, another lead-off walk played dividends for The Hall. After a lead-off walk from Taylor Hill, Erin Howard, down 0-2 in the count, drove a home run to left field to extend the Pirates' lead to 3-0. In the field, behind a strong Pirates defense, Kelsey Carr stifled FGCU through three innings, only allowing a single and a walk.

T3 | More home runs? MORE HOME RUNS! 🥎🥎🥎

Erin Howard hits a two-run home run, the team's third across today's two games, to extend The Hall's lead over FGCU!

🏴‍☠️ 3 - 🦅 0#HALLin🔵⚪ | #HooksUp pic.twitter.com/uoXzSbQT6R
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) February 15, 2025

In the fourth inning, however, Carr ran into trouble. After hitting the opening batter, a single and a stolen based led to an RBI single for the Eagles, reducing The Hall's lead to two. Another steal and walk led to a two-RBI double for FGCU, drawing the game even at 3-3. Carr would escape the inning soon after, however, leaving the Pirates' offense with work to do to in the final innings.

The Pirates would get back to work quickly at the plate. A lead-off double from Hill, followed by walks from Carr and Gilbert, loaded the bases with no outs. Before the innings end, a wild pitch and walk would score Hill and Carr, putting Seton Hall up 5-3 through five innings at the plate. After giving up three runs in the prior inning, Carr produced a statement 1-2-3 inning to send the Pirates to the top of the sixth inning still narrowly in the lead.

T6 | SHE CAN'T STOP MASHING 💣🥎

OG sends the ball over the center field wall for a two-run home run, her second of the day!

🏴‍☠️ 7 - 🦅 3#HALLin🔵⚪ | #HooksUp pic.twitter.com/cfp9VYZgEr
— Seton Hall Softball (@SHUSoftball) February 15, 2025

With the game still in the balance, someone would need to make a play to give the Pirates more margin for error. Given her day to that point, it was no surprise that Gilbert ended up making the play. After Carr collected her second walk of the game, Gilbert mashed her second two-run home run of the day to put the Pirates up 7-3 through six innings. Carr would shut the door on the Eagles in the final two innings, cementing a 7-3 victory for the Pirates over the tournament hosts.

News & Notes

Hill has registered two hits in five of the Pirates six games.
Perez has reached base safely in all six games this season.
Gilbert registered her second home run of the day
- Gilbert registered her third two-RBI game of the season.
This was the Pirates' first time hitting two home runs in a two-game day since The Hall's doubleheader against Syracuse on April 13, 2024.
The Pirates allowed two extra-base hits to the Eagles' three.

What's Next
The Pirates will play next on Saturday, February 14, when the team takes on Wisconsin at 11:30 a.m. and Omaha at 1:30 p.m.