MELBOURNE, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle softball team came back to win the second game of a doubleheader at NCAA II Florida Tech, 2-0, after dropping the opener, 1-0 in nine innings. The results, which include the first victory for Head Coach Kelsi Dunne, move ERAU's record to 1-5, while FIT moves to 13-3.

Game 1 - FIT 1, ERAU 0 (9 inn.)

Both teams had scoring opportunities early, with Florida Tech and Embry-Riddle each advancing a runner to third with less than two outs in the first two innings, but both teams failed to score.

Each team's starter settled down in the middle innings, as Robi Zimmerman set down 10 Panthers in a row at one point.

With the team's deadlocked at 0-0, Florida Tech went to the bullpen in the sixth to bring in the team's regular ace, Rachel Pence. Pence retired the first seven Eagles she faced, including five strikeouts.

Embry-Riddle threatened in the eighth after Kelsey McDonnell drew a one-out walk and Anna Battison followed with a bunt single. Pence recovered to retire the next two Eagles to get out of the inning unscathed, maintaining the scoreless tie.

The Panthers opened the bottom of the ninth with Taylor Peterson reaching on an error. After moving up to second on a sacrifice bunt, Nicole Miller singled up the middle to score Peterson with the game-winning run.

Battison finished the game 1-for-3 with a walk, while Raquelli Bianco and Talia Barraco each went 1-for-4 with a double.

Zimmerman (0-3) took the complete game loss, allowing one unearned run on five hits in 8.1 innings, walking two and striking out six.

Miller went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Panthers, and Brigit Godfrey was 1-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base.

Amanda Kahn pitched first five innings, allowing two hits and a walk with two strikeouts. Pence (8-1) got the win, pitching four scoreless innings of relief, allowing one hit and a walk with six strikeouts.

Game 2 - ERAU 2, FIT 0

Florida Tech had numerous opportunities to get on the board first in game two, including having bases-loaded chances in each of the first two innings. The Eagles got out of the first thanks to a confusing call at first base. Bianco induced a grounder with one out and threw to the plate for the second out and Battison tried to turn the 1-2-3 double play, but her throw pulled Zimmerman's foot off the bag. The first base umpire pointed to the base, indicating to most that it was an out, but then asked the plate umpire if Zimmerman had kept her foot on the base. The plate umpire said she had not, meaning there were only two outs, but during the confusion, Elaine Brown had jogged halfway to home plate. Zimmerman saw her and threw to Battison, who got Brown in a rundown, and a quick toss to Barraco allowed her to tag Brown out to end the inning with a very unconventional 1-2-3-2-5 double play.

The Panthers loaded the bases again in the second, but Bianco was able to get Brown to pop out to end the inning, keeping the game scoreless.

Neither team threatened to score until the seventh, when ERAU finally broke through with a pair of runs. Bianco reached on an error to open the inning, and Zimmerman followed with a base hit through the left side. Haleigh Lewis stepped up and slapped a single through the right side of the infield, scoring Bianco with the game's first run. Two batters later, Taylor Cowan came up with a two-out single to right, scoring Zimmerman with the second run.

FIT looked to bounce back in the bottom half of the inning as Nicole Shinksy opened the frame with a solid double to left-center. After a pop-out, Brown singled to left, setting up runners on first and second with one out. Hailey Leonard hit a deep fly ball to center field that Kailah Rain tracked down for the second out, and when Shinsky tried to tag up and advance, Rain launched a perfect throw to Barraco who applied the tag at third base to end the game.

Cowan and Lewis each went 1-for-3 with an RBI while Zimmerman was 1-for-3 with a run scored.

Bianco (1-2) earned the victory with a complete game shutout, scattering nine hits and two walks with four strikeouts.

Brown went 3-for-4 and Leonard and Miller were both 2-for-3 for Florida Tech.

Taylor Smith (4-2) took the complete game loss, giving up two unearned runs on four hits with six strikeouts and no walks.

The Eagles are back in action on Monday afternoon when they host No. 23 Davenport in a doubleheader at the Daytona State College Softball Complex. First pitch is slated for 3 p.m.