TAMPA, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle softball team split a doubleheader with Tampa on Saturday, falling in game one, 2-1, but winning the second, 5-4. Game two lasted a program-high 15 innings before the Eagles took the win.
Kassidy Simons was credited with the win in the circle, pitching a complete 15-inning game while striking out eight.
Raquelli Bianco blasted two home runs on the day, one in each game to set a new program-best for home runs in a season at seven. The Eagles are now 20-8 on the year while Tampa is 11-8.
Game 1 - UT 2, ERAU 1 The Eagles struck first in game one of the doubleheader. Bianco hit her sixth home run of the year over the right center field fence to put the Eagles up 1-0 in the top of the fourth.
In the bottom of the fifth the Spartans made a come back. Erica Matich lead off with a single to right field and moved to second on a bunt from Kelsey Humphrey. Sahrina Cortes then loaded the bases with another bunt. Makaleigh Dooley then singled up the middle with two outs to bring Humphrey and Cortes across the plate to take a 2-1 lead.
In the top of the seventh,
Robi Zimmerman reached first on a walk to give the Eagles a potential tying run but were unable to move her around the base path as the Spartans won 2-1.
Bianco, Simons and
Rae Heuer registered the only hits in the game for the Eagles with Bianco took the loss in the circle to move to 6-3 on the year.
Game 2 - ERAU 5, UT 4 (15 inn.)The Eagles once again scored in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. Entering the game, Embry-Riddle is 16-0 when scoring in the first inning, and after today improves to 17-0.
Battison started the game by reaching first on an error and then stealing second. Bianco then hit a bunt single to third base and advanced to second on a throwing error by the third baseman, which allowed Battison to cross home plate. Bianco came around to score in the inning too as Lewis hit a single up the middle to drive her home.
The Spartans got one back in the bottom half of the first however. Cristina Clauberg reached on an error and advanced to second on a single through the left side by Bre Setree. Dooley then singled to third base that allowed Clauberg to bring the score to 2-1 in favor of the Eagles.
In the bottom of the second, Tampa took the lead. Taylor Szostak hit a single to right field with two outs. Humphrey then doubled to right center in the next at bat to drive in Szostak. Up next, Cortes singled to left field, which brought Humphrey home.
In the top of the third, Bianco lifted a solo home run to right center field to tie the game at three apiece.
Battison singled to lead off the top of the fifth and advanced to second on another stolen base. Bianco then singled to right field, allowing the speedy Battison to put the Eagles back out in front, 4-3.
However, Tampa evened the score at 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth. Jennie Sittloh came in to pinch hit and doubled to left center field. Meagan Brislin then came in to pinch run and in the next at bat, Matich singled up the middle. This allowed Brislin to score the tying run.
The game would remain tied at 4-4 until the Eagles were able to string together three hits to take a 5-4 lead in the top of the 15
th inning. Bianco hit a two out single through the right side and advanced to second on a single to left field by Simons. Lewis then singled up the middle to bring Bianco home.
Embry-Riddle was able to retire the last three Tampa batters to win. The 15-inning game is now the longest in Eagle program history.
Bianco had four hits in the game, including a home run and two RBIs, she also scored three of the Eagles' five runs. Lewis also had two RBIs in the win.
The Eagles now take a week off before traveling to Palm Beach Atlantic for a three-game series against the Sailfish beginning with one game on Friday night at 7p.m. Play resumes with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m.
