DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle softball team played their first extra innings came of the season on Friday night, falling to Tampa 2-1 in the ninth. Kassidy Simons took the loss in the circle (8-2), giving up six hits while striking out three. The Eagles drop to 19-7 on the year and Tampa improves to 10-7.
 
Game 1 – UT 2, ERAU 1 (9 inn.)
 
The Eagles mustered just three hits in the game, the first of which game in the top of the second. Haleigh Lewis drove a double to left center field, which moved Simons to third as she reached on a walk. However, the Blue and Gold were unable to get on the board as the next three Eagles struck out swinging.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Tampa ended the 0-0 draw. Bre Setree lead off with a double to right center. Lauren Pascoe came in to pinch run and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from starting pitcher, Makaleigh Dooley. Pascoe then scored as Alyssa Bache reached base on an error. The Eagles were able to get out of the inning with a 1-6-3 doubleplay.
 
Embry-Riddle evened the score line in the top of the fifth. Victoria Reed got a one-out walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Natalie Morales. Anna Battison then singled to right field to score Reed.
 
The Eagles had a chance to pull ahead in the top of the sixth as Raquelli Bianco singled up the middle to start. She then stole second and advanced to third on an infield out from Lewis. With the go-ahead run on third the Eagles were unable to bring Bianco as the game remained knotted at 1-1.
 
The game went to extra innings and in the bottom of the ninth it was the Spartans who came out on top. Dooley reached base on an error to lead things off. Then Alyssa Colletti singled to center field to advance Dooley to third. Taylor Szostak then singled to bring Dooley across for the winning run.
 
The Eagles return to face Tampa again tomorrow for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.