TAMPA, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle softball team lost both ends of a doubleheader to the tenth-ranked team in NCAA II, the University of Tampa. The Eagles dropped the first game, 3-1, before falling in the nightcap, 4-0.
 
With the losses, ERAU now stands at 10-11 on the season, while UT moves to 19-4.
 
Game 1 – UT 3, ERAU 1
 
The Eagles got off to a great start in the first inning, with Sarah Huey leading off with a base hit and Dee Espinosa driving her in to score with a double over the head of the left fielder.
 
Tampa tied the game at 1-1 with a two-out RBI triple by Jenna Halper in the bottom of second.
 
Meagan Burke tripled home a run for the Spartans in the third, giving UT a 2-1 lead.
 
The score remained 2-1 until the bottom of the sixth when Kayleen Boatwright singled home a run to give the Spartans an insurance run.
 
ERAU was able to bring the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but couldn't push across a run.
 
Robi Zimmerman (4-6) took the loss, pitching a complete game for the Eagles. Zimmerman allowed three runs (two earned) on seven hits, walking three and striking out three.
 
Huey collected three of Embry-Riddle's four hits, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and a stolen base. Espinosa was 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
 
Julia Morrow (10-1) earned the win for Tampa, going the distance and giving up one run on four hits with 10 strikeouts and no walks. The earned run she allowed was just her third of the season.
 
Boatwright was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, while Burke finished 2-for-3 with a triple and an RBI.
 
Game 2 – UT 4, ERAU 0
 
In the second game, Embry-Riddle could muster just two base runners against Tampa starting pitcher Kayla Cox.
 
UT scored in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead on a Bre Setree RBI double, scoring Boatwright.
 
Boatwright increased the lead to 2-0 with a sacrifice fly in the second. Kandi Kruder then doubled the lead to 4-0 with a two-run double.
 
The Eagles got their first base runner in the fifth when Jessica Osteen drew a one-out walk, ending Cox's bid for a perfect game. Osteen also broke up the no-hitter, singling to center field with two outs in the seventh.
 
Alexis Estrada (6-5) took the loss for ERAU, giving up four runs on seven hits in six innings, walking two and striking out none.
 
Osteen ended up 1-for-2 with a walk, while Taylor Cowan finished 0-for-2 with a walk.
 
Cox (9-3) got the win, throwing a one-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and two walks.
 
Boatwright finished 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI while Setree was 2-for-2 with two doubles and an RBI.
 
The Eagles return to action on Friday, March 21, when they begin Sun Conference play with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at Ave Maria.