College Sports

FGCU Softball bested the Florida Atlantic Owls 3-2 Saturday in a College World Series regional game in Gainesville but were eliminated later in the day by South Alabama 5-1.After a prolonged rain delay, FGCU took to the field at Pressley Stadium to face off against the Owls. Avery Viancos was a force at the plate going 3-for-4 in the first game and either scored or drove in every run scored by the Eagles on the night.

The Florida Gulf Coast University softball team sharpened skills this week in anticipation of the Eagles' regional World Series game Friday against the fourth-ranked University of Florida Gators.That game is scheduled at noon in Gainesville.Eagles coach David Deiros said the team's plan from Day One was plotted out — win-it-all.

Florida Gulf Coast University's softball team won the 2024 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship 7-6 Saturday on a Neely Peterson walk-off home run in the bottom of the eighth.It was the first ASUN softball championship for the Green and Blue since 2012 and qualified the team for the NCAA College World Series.The Eagles (37-19) will pair up against the Number 4 seed University of Florida Gators (46-12) in the Gainesville regional playoff contest at noon on Friday.

Attorney General Ashley Moody signaled her support for Florida State University’s appeal of a North Carolina judge’s decision to allow a lawsuit filed against the school by the Atlantic Coast Conference to proceed — and is asking her counterparts in six states to join her efforts.Florida State and the ACC are involved in a big-money legal battle centered on media rights, with court fights in North Carolina and Tallahassee as the school considers leaving the conference. With major conference realignments in the works, challenges are being closely watched by college athletics throughout the country.

Fewer fans during the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a drop in economic returns on state programs that provide sports-related grants and incentives, according to a newly released state analysis.The Florida Sports Foundation claimed a small positive return for each $1 spent on grants to professional and amateur events, the analysis by the Legislature’s Office of Economic & Demographic Research found. But with many games held without fans or with limited crowds because of pandemic restrictions, larger incentives tied to publicly funded stadiums and arenas posted negative returns.

Those who knew Walt Wesley would call him, a soft spoken, gentle giant.Wesley stood at 6 feet 11 inches tall and notably he used his height to dominate the basketball court. Wesley died recently, but while he lived, his life was a testament of service and giving back.

A Leon County circuit judge Tuesday refused to put on hold a lawsuit filed by Florida State University against the Atlantic Coast Conference, as a big-money battle between the university and its longtime conference continues to play out in two states.

The twelfth-seeded FGCU women's basketball gave fifth-seeded/No. 18 Oklahoma all it could handle Saturday in the First Round of the 2024 NCAA Tournament at Assembly Hall but fell a three-pointer short in a 73-70 loss.

The FGCU women's basketball team won the ASUN tournament on Saturday, beating Central Arkansas 76-47 on at Alico Arena. On Sunday, the Eagles watched the NCAA Tournament Selection Show and found they would be playing the Oklahoma Sooners in Bloomington, Indiana.The Eagles square off against the Sooners at 4 p.m. March 23 on ESPNews.

Black student-athletes should reconsider attending public colleges and universities in Florida, the NAACP said in a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker on Monday.The letter was in response to the University of Florida and other state schools that have eliminated their diversity, equity and inclusion programs. It was also addressed to current and prospective student-athletes.