DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Robi Zimmerman hit a three-run home run to cap an 11-2 win in game one but the visiting Wolverines of Michigan-Dearborn came back to take the second game, 12-6, as the two teams split a doubleheader at the Daytona State College Softball Complex on Saturday. The results move ERAU's season record to 9-9.
Game 1 - ERAU 11, UMD 2 (6 inn.)
The Blue and Gold wasted no time jumping all over Michigan-Dearborn as 11 Eagles batted in the first inning. Anna Battison scored the first run of the game on a passed ball; two pitches later, Talia Barraco drove home two more runs with a double to left-center. After Taylor Cowan walked, Haleigh Lewis singled in Barraco to make it 4-0. Two batters later, Kelsey McDonnell singled in Cowan, and Battison followed that with an RBI single scoring Lewis to put the Eagles ahead, 6-0.
Barraco hit a sac fly in the second to make it a 7-0 game, a score that would hold until the sixth.
The Wolverines scored a couple runs in the sixth to cut the lead to 7-2, but Embry-Riddle answered back with a four-run bottom half of the inning. Kailah Rain singled in Battison and Zimmerman launched a three-run shot over the left-center field fence, ending the game early via the mercy rule, 11-2. The home run moved Zimmerman into a tie with Dee Espinosa for the progam's all-time career lead with eight.
Zimmerman went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run and Barraco was 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs and a run scored. Rain finished 3-for-4 with a triple, two runs scored and an RBI and Battison went 1-for-3 with a stolen base, two runs scored and an RBI.
Zimmerman (4-4) also pitched a complete game victory, allowing two unearned runs on five hits, walking one and striking out four.
Makenzie Trowbridge went 2-for-2 with a walk and a run scored for the Wolverines, while Ellie Kauten was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Alex Elwell took the loss, allowing six runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks in 0.2 innings of work.
Game 2 - UMD 12, ERAU 6
Michigan-Dearborn scored a run on a double play ball in the top of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, only to see Embry-Riddle respond with a pair of runs in the bottom half. Zimmerman hit a sac fly to score Rain to tie the game, and on the next pitch, Barraco singled home Raquelli Bianco to put ERAU ahead, 2-1.
McDonnell knocked in Chanley Burge with a third-inning single to extend the lead to 3-1, but it would be short-lived as UMD came back with two runs in the third to tie the game at three.
The Blue and Gold batted around in the fourth inning, plating three runs in the process to take a 6-3 lead. Burge reached on an infield single to start the inning, and Rain drove her home with a base hit to put ERAU ahead. Battison came around to score on a wild pitch and Rain reached home plate when Barraco was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The Eagles missed an opportunity to blow the game open as Cowan and Lewis ended the inning with groundouts, leaving the bases loaded.
The Wolverines used the long ball to re-tie the game in the fifth, with Jessie Theume hitting a two-run home run and Jordan Ewald following with a solo shot, knotting things up at 6-6.
UMD put together a five-hit sixth inning, including a pair of doubles and a three-run home run off Kauten's bat to open up a 12-6 lead.
Embry-Riddle couldn't muster a rally in either of the last two innings, falling by a score of 12-6.
Rain finished 2-for-4 with a stolen base, two runs scored and an RBI, while Battison was 2-for-3 with two stolen bases and a run scored. McDonnell went 2-for-3 with an RBI and Burge was 1-for-2 with two runs scored.
Bianco (4-5) took the complete game loss, giving up 12 runs on 16 hits with a walk and six strikeouts.
Trowbridge was 4-for-5 with three doubles and three runs scored while Thueme was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs. Taylor Moceri was 3-for-4 with three runs scored and Lindsay Taylor finished 3-for-4 with a double, stolen base, run scored and RBI.
Paige Altherr earned the win in relief, tossing 3.2 scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and one walk with two strikeouts.
The Eagles continue their homestand next Tuesday (March 10) when they host Columbia (S.C.). Due to a conflict with Daytona State College's softball schedule, the doubleheader will be played at the City Center Sports Complex (4625 City Center Drive) in Port Orange. First pitch for game one is slated for 4 p.m.
