PORT ORANGE, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle softball team bounced back from a 5-1 loss in game one to trounce the visiting Columbia (S.C.) College Fighting Koalas 11-0 in five innings in game two. The split keeps ERAU's season record at the .500 mark at 10-10 overall, while CC moves to 5-7. Due to a scheduling conflict with Daytona State College, who had a rainout rescheduled for Tuesday, the Eagles and Fighting Koalas played their doubleheader at the City Center Sports Complex in Port Orange, marking the third different home field in ERAU's program history.
Game 1 - CC 5, ERAU 1
The Fighting Koalas got on the board first in game one, plating single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. Columbia added two more in the fifth, but a 5-3 double play got Robi Zimmerman out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam to keep the deficit at 4-0.
ERAU threatened in the bottom half of the fifth, but the Eagles stranded two runners in scoring position at the end of the inning.
Talia Barraco got Embry-Riddle on the board with an RBI single in the sixth, scoring Raquelli Bianco to make it a 4-1 game.
The Fighting Koalas took advantage of a leadoff walk in the seventh to tack on another run, and Columbia would go on to take game one, 5-1.
Barraco was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Anna Battison was 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base and Bianco was 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored
Zimmerman (4-5) took the complete game loss, allowing five runs on eight hits with seven walks and five strikeouts.
Madison Ryan was 2-for-4 with a run scored and Taylor Rawl finished 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored, a stolen base and an RBI for the Fighting Koalas.
Erin Walker (3-5) earned the complete game win, allowing one run on six hits, walking two and striking out six. Walker was also 1-for-3 with an RBI at the plate.
Game 2 - ERAU 11, CC 0 (5 inn.)
Game two was a complete reversal, as Embry-Riddle took advantage of 11 Fighting Koala walks while only allowing three Columbia batters to reach base as ERAU run-ruled the visitors.
Battison opened the first inning with a four-pitch walk and Kailah Rain was then promptly hit by a pitch. After a groundout, Barraco knocked in Battison with a sac fly to make it 1-0. Zimmerman then drew a walk and Taylor Cowan followed with another four-pitch walk, prompting Columbia to make an early pitching change. A ground ball to the short stop ended the inning without further damage, but it was a sign of things to come for the Fighting Koala pitching staff.
The Blue and Gold were victimized by a lineout double play in the second, but ERAU came back with a seven-run third inning that saw 11 batters and a total of six walks. Bianco drew a walk to open the inning and after a fielder's choice, Zimmerman hit an RBI single that ricocheted off the third baseman's wrist to score Barraco. Cowan then drew a walk and Haleigh Lewis followed that with a three-run home run over the left-center field fence to put ERAU ahead, 5-0. Victoria Reed then drew a walk against the third Fighting Koala pitcher of the game, immediately followed by Alexis Sutton walking on four pitches. Battison then walked on four straight to load the bases, and Rain got an RBI after watching four straight balls to draw a bases-loaded walk. With the Fighting Koalas frustrated and not paying attention, Kelsey McDonnell easily stole home to make it a 7-0 game. Bianco hit a sacrifice fly to score Battison, giving the Blue and Gold an 8-0 advantage after three innings.
Columbia had a chance to get on the scoreboard in the fourth, but Assistant Coach Tatjana Matthews made a poor decision to send Rochelle Lyda, who had been on first base, all the way around to try to score on an errant throw from Barraco. Zimmerman picked the ball up in front of the Fighting Koala dugout and threw to Battison at the plate, who turned and fired to Barraco at third who easily applied the tag on Lyda, who had tried to retreat back to the bag after realizing she had no chance to score.
The Eagles didn't rest comfortably in their half of the fourth with an 8-0 lead, but rather pounded out five more hits and three more runs. Lewis doubled home Zimmerman and Cowan to make it 10-0 and Battison singled home Lewis, giving the home team an 11-0 advantage.
Bianco set the Fighting Koalas down 1-2-3 in the fifth to finish the game with Embry-Riddle winning 11-0 in five innings thanks to the eight-run rule.
Lewis went 2-for-3 with a double, home run, five RBIs and two runs scored, while Battison was 2-for-2 with two walks, two steals, two runs scored and an RBI. Zimmerman finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI and Cowan was 1-for-1 with two walks and two runs scored.
Bianco (5-5) got the complete game shutout, allowing just two hits with no walks and eight strikeouts.
Lyda was 1-for-2 and Brittany Hines was 1-for-1, representing the lone two hits for the Fighting Koalas. Rachel Lembcke (2-1) took the loss, allowing one run in 0.2 innings of work, walking three and not recording a strikeout or allowing a hit.
The Eagles will have a seven-day break before returning to the field on Wednesday, March 18 when they host Concordia (Mich.) in a doubleheader at the Daytona State College Softball Complex beginning at 10 a.m.
