ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The 2015 campaign for the Embry-Riddle softball team got off to a rocky start as the Blue and Gold lost a pair of games at the Flagler Softball Tournament on Sunday. ERAU fell to Lee in five innings by a score of 10-0 before losing to the No. 2 team in NCAA II, Valdosta State, 11-2 in five innings. Embry-Riddle now stands at 0-2 on the young season, while Lee improves to 5-1 and VSU moves to 7-1.
Lee 10, ERAU 0 (5 inn.)
The Eagles couldn't get the bats going at all against Lee starter Angie Hughes, who allowed just one hit and one walk in four innings of work.
LU blew open the scoreless tie with a seven-run third inning. The Lady Flames used nine hits in the inning, including a two-run home run from Kaylie Drew, to do the damage.
Emily Dagnan connected for a three-run home run in the fourth inning to make it a 10-0 game, which would prove to be the final score.
Raquelli Bianco went 1-for-2 with a double and Rae Heuer was 0-for-1 with a walk. Robi Zimmerman (0-1) took the loss, allowing 10 runs (nine earned) on 12 hits in four innings.
Dagnan was 2-for-3 with four RBIs and Drew was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs to lead the Lee offense. Hughes (3-1) got the win in the circle for Lee.
Valdosta State 11, ERAU 2 (5 inn.)
In the nightcap, Embry-Riddle took an early lead, but once again the third inning proved to doom the Eagles.
The Blue and Gold got on the board first with a two-run second inning. Zimmerman opened the inning with a solid single to left-center and Bianco followed with a base hit to left. After Talia Barraco was hit by a pitch, Heuer drew a bases-loaded walk to score Zimmerman for the first run of the game. Three batters later, Anna Battison drew another bases-loaded walk to score Barraco to make it 2-0.
The Blazers bounced back with eight runs in the third, keyed by a three-run double off the bat of Kelly Gordon.
Brandy Morgan added three more runs for VSU with a bases-clearing double in the fourth to account for the 11-2 final score.
Haleigh Lewis went 1-for-3 with a double and Zimmerman was 1-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt and a run scored. Bianco (0-1) took the loss, allowing 11 runs, though only one was earned, on seven hits in four innings.
Morgan finished 1-for-2 with three RBIs and Gordon was 1-for-3 with three RBIs to lead the VSU offense. Maci Fletcher (2-0) picked up the win, tossing four shutout innings in relief, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out two.
The Eagles are back in action on Saturday, Feb. 14 when they host NCAA II Rollins in ERAU's home opener. The games will be played at Daytona State College and first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
