DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle softball team swept the University of South Carolina Beaufort for the first time in program history. The Sand Sharks won the last eight meetings between the two sides but it was the Eagles coming out on top on Friday night. The Blue and Gold won by scores of 10-5 and 8-4. Raquelli Bianco pitched a complete game in the second contest striking out eight. She also clobbered her second home run of the year in the Eagles first win of the doubleheader.

Game 1 - ERAU 10, USCB 5
It was the Sand Sharks who got on the board first in the game, scoring off hits down the left field line. However, the Blue and Gold came back in the bottom of the inning to take the lead as Anna Battison led off with a walk and scored on Robi Zimmerman's double a few batters later. Zimmerman then crossed the plate as Kassidy Simons singled to left center.
 
USCB led off the second inning with Bailey Craven sending the first pitch she saw over the center field fence.
 
The home side was gifted the lead in the bottom of the third inning as Kailah Rain led off with a double and then Sand Shark pitcher, Ashlie Layman, walked or hit five of the next seven batters to give the Eagles a 5-2 advantage.
 
The Sand Sharks got one back in the fourth but ERAU added two in the bottom half of the inning as well. Zimmerman drove in two more RBIs as Rain and Bianco made their way around the bases following hits to lead of the inning.
 
The Eagles added to their scoreline in the fifth inning as well. A pitch hit Gabriela Obia and Anna Battison made it to first on an infield single before Raquelli Bianco blasted her second home run of the night over the left center field fence. This gave the home side the 10-3 lead.
 
The Sand Sharks tried to make it interesting in the top of the seventh, scoring two but it was too late as the Eagles took it 10-5.
 
Zimmerman got the win in the circle, her second of the year. She struck out three while recording 3 RBIs at the plate to go along with two doubles and a walk. Bianco was also 2-3 in the game with 3 RBIs as well.
 
Game 2 - ERAU 8, USCB 4
The Eagles picked right back up where they left in the second game, scoring in the first inning in this game as well. Battison began the game again with a walk and Bianco drove her in by singling to right field.
 
The Sand Sharks got on the board in the second inning as Haley Brown homered to left center field. That would end up being the only run scored by USCB until the seventh inning.
 
The Eagles weren't done scoring as they added four in the third inning. Zimmerman picked up a walk followed by Simons singling to left center and Haleigh Lewis hitting a single down the left field line to load the bases. Then in her first collegiate at bat for Embry-Riddle, Mckenzee Quinn blasted a bases clearing double to left center field to give the Eagles a 4-1 edge. Quinn then scored as Battison sent a ball just past the Sand Shark second baseman.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, the Eagled added to their lead. Rain led off with a bunt before advancing to third on Bianco's double down the right field line. Zimmerman then sent a ball flying to right center field where the outfielders collided in an attempt to make a play. She ended up making it to third on the play to score Rain and Bianco.
 
USCB again tried to make a comeback in the seventh inning, hitting three doubles and capitalizing on a throwing error by Bianco. However Bianco was able to hang on, striking out Brodie McGregor for the final out of the game.
 
Quinn lead the team in RBIs in the game with three while Bianco went 2-4 in the contest. She also recorded the win the circle, striking out nine in the process.
 
The Eagles return to the field tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 13 to host St. Thomas in a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.