DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle softball team slipped by American International College on Tuesday night. The Eagles were able to sweep the visiting Yellow Jackets in a doubleheader, winning 4-1 and 2-1.
Raquelli Bianco picked up her sixth win in the circle, striking out a career-high 11 in game two.
Anna Battison was strong at the plate and on the base path, going 3-for-4 with three walks, scoring four runs and stealing three bases. The wins improve ERAU's season record to 17-6, while AIC drops to 1-4 on its young season.
Game 1 - ERAU 4, AIC 1 The Blue and Gold got on the board first scoring in the first inning as
Anna Battison got a leadoff walk and then stole second base. She then moved to third on a ground out and scored as
Kassidy Simons popped up, but the centerfielder dropped the ball.
Battison then walked again in the bottom of the third and stole second base. This time she scored on a single through the right side by Bianco.
The Yellow Jackets got on the board in the top of the fourth inning. Jorrdin Miller reached first on a fielder's choice and stole second. She then scored on Jamie Mainez's single to left center field.
Up 2-1, the Eagles added to their lead in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs,
Anna Battison picked up her third walk of the game and stole second base for the third time in the game as well. She advanced to third base as
Kailah Rain hit an infield single to the pitcher. Rain then stole second base and Yellow Jacket catcher, Ainslee Penfield made a bad throw that ended up in centerfield allowing Battison to cross the plate.
The home side added one more run in the bottom of the sixth.
Robi Zimmerman reached on a single to left field and scored on the next at bat.
Haleigh Lewis hit a ball hard down the left field line that ended up in the corner for a double, allowing Zimmerman to make her way home.
Simons got the win in the circle, her seventh of the year. She struck out three, including the final out of the game.
Game 2 - ERAU 2, AIC 1 ERAU wasted no time jumping out in front in game two again earning the lead in the bottom of the first inning. Battison led off with a double to left center field, she moved to third on a single from Rain. Bianco hit an infield single to load the bases. With two outs, Simons reached on a error, allowing Battison to put the Eagles up 1-0.
The Blue and Gold held onto that advantage until adding another run in the bottom of the fifth. Rain singled to left field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Up next, Bianco singled through the left side and on the same play snuck over to second base. The Yellow Jackets attempted to throw her out, making way for the speedy Rain to score.
In the top of the seventh, AIC came back with a run. Miller singled down the left field line and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Lyndsey Letourneau then doubled to left center to drive in Miller. With the tying run on second base with two outs, Bianco was able to force Kaley Kempf to pop up a ball in foul territory. Battison made the catch for the final out of the game.
Bianco moved to 6-2 on the year with the win, striking out 11 and walking none. Battison was 3-for-4 in the game, scoring once and recorded a double. Rain scored the other run, going 2-for-3 at the plate.
The Eagles have a quick turn around as they host Fisher in a doubleheader beginning at 4 p.m. at the ERAU Softball Stadium tomorrow, Wednesday March 9.
