WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle softball team used a six-run fifth inning to come from behind for an 8-4 win in game two on Thursday as the Blue and Gold split a doubleheader at NCAA II Palm Beach Atlantic. The Sailfish won the first game, 3-0.
The results keep the Eagles at .500 for the season at 16-16 while PBA moves to 24-19.
Game 1 - PBA 3, ERAU 0
All of the scoring in game one came on one swing - a first-inning three-run home run off the bat of Victoria Gonzalez.
The Eagles got two runners on with one away in the third, but failed to advance them any further. Those would be the last baserunners of the game for ERAU.
Robi Zimmerman (6-9) took the loss in a complete game effort, allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with no walks and one strikeout. Anna Battison and Kailah Rain went 1-for-3 and Kelsey McDonnell was 1-for-2.
Rachel Hill (12-2) earned the win, tossing a complete game shutout with only three hits allowed. Gonzalez finished 1-for-3 with a three-run home run, while Stephanie Garrels was 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Game 2 - ERAU 8, PBA 4
The Sailfish got on the board first just as they did in game one, scoring twice in the first inning to take an early 2-0 lead.
Embry-Riddle dented the scoreboard for the first time when Raquelli Bianco doubled home Haleigh Lewis in the top of the fourth, cutting the deficit in half to 2-1.
The Eagle bats came roaring to life in the fifth inning as 12 batters came to the plate in the frame. Rae Heuer started the rally with a one-out walk, and Rain and Lewis followed with infield singles to load the bases. After a PBA pitching change, Taylor Cowan singled up the middle to tie the game at 2-2. Bianco then drew a walk, which prompted another change in the circle for the Sailfish. Barraco and Zimmerman were each walked with the bases loaded, giving ERAU a 4-2 lead, and prompting Palm Beach Atlantic to reinsert its starting pitcher. McDonnell reached on an infield single, scoring Barraco, and Heuer followed with another base on balls to score Zimmerman with the sixth and final run of the inning, putting the Eagles ahead, 7-2.
The Sailfish responded with two runs in their half of the fifth, but ERAU answered back with a run in the sixth on a Victoria Reed hit-by-pitch. That would prove to be the final scoring play of the day, as Bianco tossed scoreless sixth and seventh frames.
Bianco (9-7) got the complete game victory, allowing four runs (one earned) on seven hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Lewis went 4-for-5 with two runs scored while Zimmerman was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI and Reed was 1-for-3 with two RBIs.
Amber Johnson (2-6) took the loss for PBA, surrendering three runs on eight hits, walking three and striking out one. Theresa Butler finished 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs while Gonzalez was 2-for-4.
The Eagles will return to the diamond next Thursday when they visit Southeastern for a Sun Conference doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. in Lakeland.
