DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle softball team split a doubleheader with Ferris State on Wednesday evening. The Eagles took the first game 6-1 and the Bulldogs came back to best the home side 10-1 in game two. Kassidy Simons got the win in the circle for the Eagles, pitching six innings and giving up just three hits while striking out six. ERAU moves to 12-6 on the year while Ferris State is now 6-2.
Game 1 - ERAU 6, FSU 1
The Eagles started game one with Simons striking out two in the circle and then helping herself by driving in a run in the bottom half of the inning. Anna Battison started the inning by reaching first on a bunt single and advancing to third on a stolen base and an infield groundout by Raquelli Bianco. Simons then singled to centerfield to score Battison. In the next at bat, Robi Zimmerman sent a longball to right center that was feet from being home run but was instead a triple to score Simons. The Eagles took a 3-0 lead as Haleigh Lewis reached on an error and Zimmerman crossed the plate.
The 3-0 score line remained until the bottom of the fifth inning as Kailah Rain leadoff with an infield single. Bianco then reached base on an error and Simons loaded the bases by being hit by her ninth pitch this season. Zimmerman walked in the following at bat for the Eagles fourth run. Gabriella Obia then picked up an RBI as she grounded out to the shortstop but allowed Bianco to come home.
In the bottom of the sixth the Blue and Gold added one more insurance run with Battison starting the inning with a double down the right field line. She scored on a single up the middle from Simons.
The Bulldogs got one on the scoreboard in the seventh on back-to-back hits; a leadoff double from Bailey Darwin and a single to left by Alexis Hongisto. On two consecutive unassisted plays at second base, Eagle shortstop Lewis was able to end the game to give the home side the 6-1 win.
Battison was 2-for-3 in the game while Simons got the win in the circle and was 2-for-3 at the plate with 2 RBIs. Zimmerman also drove in two runs for the Blue and Gold.
Game 2 - FSU 10, ERAU 1 (5 inn.)
In her first start of the year, Bulldog pitcher Sam Bates silenced the Eagle bats en route to a one-hitter run-ruled win for Ferris State.
The lone Eagle hit of the night was a single through the left side in the bottom of the second inning by Simons. She was left stranded on second base.
Ferris State's bats were not silenced as they got on the board first in the game with two runs in the top of the third and three more in the top of the fourth. Casey Bias hit a three-run shot over the left field fence, her third of the year, and only her fourth hit of the season to give the Bulldogs a 5-0 advantage.
The visitors added five more runs in the top of the fifth on four hits, two fielders choices and two walks. The Eagles attempted a comeback in the bottom half of the inning as Lewis reached base on a throwing error by the Bulldog shortstop, Sarah Johnson. Natalie Morales reached base later in the inning in the same manner, allowing Lewis to score the lone Eagle run. The Bulldogs however were able to end the inning to secure the 10-1 win.
The Eagles return to the Embry-Riddle Softball Stadium on Friday at 7 p.m. to host a three-game series with Florida Southern. Saturday will be a doubleheader with the Mocs starting at 1 p.m.
