DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Playing a regular season contest at the ERAU Softball Stadium for the first time in program history, the Embry-Riddle softball team scored four times in the bottom of the seventh to win in walk-off fashion, 8-7. The Blue and Gold came back and took the second game, 4-2, completing the sweep of the Bellevue Bruins.
 
With the wins, Embry-Riddle improved to 4-6 on the season and extended its winning streak to four games. The Bruins, playing their first games of the 2013 season, fell to 0-2.
 
Game 1 – ERAU 8, BU 7
 
The Bruins jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first, taking advantage of a three-base error allowing the leadoff batter, Alyssa Matobo to reach third base. Kim Wees put down a successful sacrifice bunt to score Matobo on a squeeze play.
 
Embry-Riddle bounced back with a pair of runs in the second inning to take a 2-1 lead. Jessica Osteen drilled a double to right field, scoring Haleigh Lewis to tie the game. After Krizzy Menez pinch ran for Osteen, she promptly stole third base and then scored on a passed ball, giving the Eagles the lead, 2-1.
 
Amanda Neumann put the Bruins back in front with a two-out two-run double in the third inning, giving Bellevue a 3-2 lead. BU added another run in the fourth and two more in the fifth to build the lead to 6-2.
 
The Eagles got two runs back in the bottom of the fifth when Dee Espinosa launched a two-run home run over the left-field fence, the first home run ever hit at the ERAU Softball Stadium. The home run pulled the Blue and Gold to within two at 6-4.
 
Bellevue posted an insurance run in the top of the seventh, putting the Bruins ahead, 7-4, heading to the bottom of the seventh.
 
Sarah Huey started the bottom of the seventh with a solid single to right, and Savannah Smith followed with her first career home run, a two-run shot that made the score 7-6. The next batter, Espinosa, singled through the left side, prompting a pitching change for Bellevue. With Neumann back in the circle, Zimmerman hit a line drive over the head of the left fielder for a double, scoring Espinosa with the game-tying run. After Lewis bunted Zimmerman to third, Rae Heuer entered as a pinch runner for Zimmerman. The Bruins then intentionally walked Osteen and Chanley Burge to load the bases with one out. Melanie Lee came off the bench to pinch hit for Jori Walan and hit an 0-2 pitch towards the second baseman, who misplayed the ball, allowing Heuer to score the game-winning run.
 
Zimmerman started for the Eagles, going five innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk, striking out thre and throwing one wild pitch. Alexis Estrada got the win in relief, improving to 2-2 on the season. She pitched two innings, giving up one run on two hits with two strikeouts and one hit batter.
 
Zimmerman went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI while Espinosa was 2-for-4 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs. Savannah Smith finished 1-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, while Huey was 2-for-3 with two runs scored and a stolen base.
 
Amanda Neumann got the start and pitched 5.1 innings for the Bruins, allowing five runs (four earned) on seven hits and six walks (two intentional), striking out three. Shelby Kindelin came on in relief and threw one inning, giving up three runs on three hits with one strikeout.
 
Neumann was 2-for-4 at the plate with a double and two RBIs while Wees went 2-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored.
 
ERAU 4, BU 2
 
Embry-Riddle got on the board first in game two when Osteen hit a sacrifice fly to score Menez in the bottom of the second inning, putting ERAU ahead, 1-0.
 
The home team added another run in the third when Heuer scored on Savannah Smith's two-out double, increasing the lead to 2-0.
 
The Bruins cut the lead in half (2-1) on a sac fly in the fourth, but Estrada set down seven of the next eight batters to keep the Eagles in front.
 
Savannah Smith came through with a bases-loaded single in the fifth, scoring Samantha Smith and Heuer, giving the Blue and Gold a 4-1 lead.
 
The Eagles continued to lead 4-1 going to the seventh inning. Bellevue scored a run on a fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 4-2 and the Bruins had the potential tying run on base with just one out. Estrada showed her poise, striking out Kristin Burhenne for the second out. With a 2-2 count on Matoba, Emily Hester got caught off first base on a pickoff attempt by Espinosa. Lewis eventually applied the tag on her to end the game and complete the doubleheader sweep.
 
Estrada pitched all seven innings, allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits with no walks and a season-high nine strikeouts.
 
Savannah Smith finished 2-for-3 with a double and three RBIs. Heuer went 1-for-1 with a walk and two runs scored.
 
Taylor Mohler pitched a six-inning complete game for the Bruins, giving up four runs on six hits and two walks with two strikeouts.
 
Kelsie Bridgeford had two of Bellevue's five hits including a double, the only extra-base hit the Bruins had in the game. Neumann went 1-for-3 with a run scored and Malloy was 0-for-2 with an RBI and a stolen base.
 
The Eagles are back in action tomorrow afternoon as they host No. 24 Indiana Wesleyan in doubleheader at the ERAU Softball Stadium. First pitch for game one is set for 12 p.m.