The Florida Gulf Coast Eagles are coming off their first losing season since 2015. Head coach David Deiros has brought in 14 new faces for the 2023 campaign, which includes Six Freshmen, Five DI Transfers, and Three JUCO Transfers. This group will help the team in all aspects of the game.
The Eagles return two at the plate that hit over .300 in 2022 in Riley Oakes (.309) and Tayli Filla (.303). Oakes also led the team in stolen bases (7), while Filla was second in many offensive categories. One reason the Eagles added so many is to improve at the plate and generate more runs in 2023. A few newcomers you should keep an eye on are JUCO Transfer McKenzie Wittenberg, who was an exceptional lead-off last year for 2022 JUCO National Champions Florida Southwestern, Eastern Illinois transfer Simia Spahiev has a history of production at the plate and freshman Nikki Gibson (Yorktown, VA) who is a power hitter that could have an immediate impact.
The Eagles return their two primary pitchers from 2022 in senior Ally Hulme (11-13) and fellow senior Oakes (2-11). Based on the arms they are bringing in, there should be a real battle to see who will anchor this group. Freshman Gracie Wallace, a righthanded pitcher out of Sorrento, Fl, is coming off a Highschool season where she posted a 25-2 record with a 0.54 ERA and 326 strikeouts over 167 innings of work. They add two from the JUCO ranks, and both are coming off superb seasons. Right-hander Claire Maulding comes via Lake Land College, where in 2022, she went 19-6 with ten shutouts and a 1.95 ERA. Florida Southwestern Transfer Baylee Haggard should step in right away. In 2022 she led the Buccaneers to an NJCAA National Championship behind her 25-2 record.
2023 will be an exciting season for the Eagles as they look to reload and get back to their winning ways. Based on the size of the class coach Deiros brought in, we must think that nearly every position will be a battle. FGCU will kick the season off on February 10, 2023, at home against Binghamton.
