THOMASVILLE, Ga. - The Embry-Riddle softball team dropped both ends of a doubleheader at No. 10 Thomas on Saturday, falling in five innings in game one, 8-0, before losing a pitchers' duel in game two, 2-0. With the losses, the Eagles fall to 15-13 overall and 1-3 in conference, while TU improves to 28-7 and 6-0 in league play.
Game 1 - TU 8, ERAU 0 (5 inn.)
Thomas used the long ball in game one, connecting for a grand slam in the second and a three-run homer in the fifth to account for seven of its eight runs. The Eagles had baserunners in every inning except the fourth, but couldn't advance a runner to third base until there were two outs in the fifth.
TU ended the game in the bottom of the fifth when Lindsey Young scored on a wild pitch, giving the Night Hawks an 8-0 victory.
Robi Zimmerman (6-7) took the loss, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on six hits, walking four and striking out three. Anna Battison was 2-for-3 with a stolen base while Kailah Rain and Raquelli Bianco each went 1-for-3.
Katie Lopes (9-2) pitched a complete game shutout, allowing four hits and striking out four. Aileen Fiallo was 1-for-1 with a grand slam and a walk and Kelsey Connolly was 2-for-3 with a three-run home run.
Game 2 - TU 2, ERAU 0
The Blue and Gold struggled at the plate in game two, mustering just two hits as a team. Thomas scored both its runs in the first, with Alex VanWagner scoring on a ground ball and Chandler Seay coming home on a sacrifice fly.
The Eagles got a pair of baserunners in the fifth as Taylor Cowan drew a one-out walk and Rae Heuer was hit by a pitch, but ERAU couldn't push a run across.
Embry-Riddle threatened in the seventh after Zimmerman led off with a walk and Haleigh Lewis knocked a single up the middle with two outs, advancing Zimmerman to third. Ashley Sikes was able to get Heuer swinging to end the game, stranding both baserunners.
Bianco (8-6) was tagged with the loss, snapping her string of four straight complete game shutout victories. Bianco allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and struck out two. Rain and Lewis went 1-for-3 at the plate to account for both ERAU hits.
Sikes (13-4) got the complete game shutout, allowing two hits and two walks with two strikeouts. Rachel Hoeft was 1-for-2 with a double and an RBI while VanWagner and Seay were both 1-for-3 with a run scored.
The Eagles are back at it tomorrow (March 29) when they play a doubleheader against No. 24 South Carolina Beaufort in Hardeeville, South Carolina, beginning at 12 p.m.
