MELBOURNE, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle softball team suffered a pair of losses to Florida Tech on Saturday afternoon. Following a win on Friday night, the Eagles were looking for a series win but the Panthers bested the Blue and Gold 7-0 and 4-1. ERAU moves to 9-5 on the year while FIT improves to 15-5.

Game 1 – FIT 7, ERAU 0
The Eagles pieced together just four hits in the first game, and despite two doubles were unable to drive in any runs.
 
Kailah Rain doubled to left center in the first inning and Kassidy Simons doubled to right center in the fourth inning. Panther pitcher, Rachel Pence, silenced the other Eagle bats by striking out 11 to strand ERAU base runners to hold the Blue and Gold scoreless.
 
FIT took a one-run lead in the bottom of the second inning, scoring on consecutive hits by Hailey Leonard and Ashley Montion.
 
The Eagle defense, led by pitcher Robi Zimmerman, kept the Panthers within reach by striking out four, nine total in the game. Florida Tech however, broke the game open scoring six runs in the bottom of the fifth, all with two outs to increase their lead.
 
The Eagles had a chance in the top of sixth as Simons reached base with a walk and advanced to second on a single by Haleigh Lewis but were unable to capitialize on the base runners to fall to FIT, 7-0.

Game 2 – FIT 4, ERAU 1
The Eagles started game two strong with Anna Battison hitting a lead off triple but like the first game, she was left stranded.
 
Neither team got on the board until the bottom of the third inning as FIT was able to score one. Elaine Brown doubled down the left field line to get Alexus Smith across home plate.
 
The Blue and Gold came back in the next half inning to even the score line. Raquelli Bianco singled to right field and promptly stole second base. She then scored as Lewis singled up the middle.
 
The Panthers countered in the bottom of the fourth with two solo home runs to lead off the inning. They added one more on another solo home run in the top of the fifth inning. Leading 4-1, FIT was able to stifle the Eagles in the remaining at bats to win the win and the series.

The Eagles have a quick turn around as they return to the Embry-Riddle Softball Stadium to host Concordia College (Minn.) in a doubleheader on Monday, Feb. 29. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.