DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle softball team picked up a series win on Friday night by defeating Lynn 2-1 and 4-1 in a doubleheader at the Embry-Riddle Softball Stadium.
Kassidy Simons earned her 13th win of the season in game one, allowing just two hits and striking out six. At the plate, Simons scored both runs, one of which was a solo home run. Bianco pitched the Eagles to a win in game two, allowing four hits while striking out five. Embry-Riddle is now 27-8 on the year, a new program-high for wins in a single season while Lynn drops to 12-23-1.
Game 1 - ERAU 2, LU 1
The Fighting Knights got on the board first in game one. In the top of the first inning the visitors took advantage of an Eagle error as Amanda Casillas reached base. She came around to score on a double down the right field line from Victoria Rios a batter later.
Lynn held onto the 1-0 advantage until Simons sent a solo home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the third. It was a very high fly ball that carried and hit the scoreboard to tie the game at one apiece.
In the bottom of the fifth the Eagles took the lead. Simons was gifted a one out walk and was able to score from first on a double to right center field by
Robi Zimmerman.
The Eagles held onto the 2-1 edge but in the top of the seventh Lynn threatened. The Fighting Knights got a lead off base runner on an Eagle error and followed that up with a bunt single. The runners advanced to second and third but the Eagles were able to end the inning on back-to-back infield groundouts to secure the 2-1 win.
Simons was 1-for-2, scoring both runs and hitting her fourth homer of the year. Zimmerman picked up her 98th career RBI in the win.
Game 2 - ERAU 4, LU 1
It was the Eagles who struck first in game two.
Anna Battison started things off with a bunt single. Up next, Bianco layed down a bunt and was out at first but Battison made her way around to third base. She was able to take home as the Fighting Knights overthrew third base on the play.
In the top of the third the visitors tied the game at 1-1. Francais Olexa singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Rios then hit into a fielder's choice as the Eagles chose to go to second base to try to get Olexa. The errant throw ended up in right field, which allowed Olexa to score.
The game remained tied until the Eagles broke things open in the bottom of the sixth inning. Bianco led off with a bunt single and took second as the first baseman couldn't handle the late throw. Bianco then took third on a passed ball, which allowed her to tag up and score on a sacrifice fly from Simons in the next at bat.
Haleigh Lewis then followed up the hits with a hard hit double to dead center field that ended up at the base of the fence. Up next, Zimmerman reached base on an infield single that allowed Lewis to take third. With runners on the corners,
Rae Heuer ripped a ball to right center field that rolled to the fences for her second career triple to give the Eagles a 4-1 advantage.
In the top of the seventh, the home team was able to put the Fighting Knights down in three tries with Bianco striking out the final batter.
Battison was 2-for-3 in the game while scoring a run and Simons went 1-for-2 with an RBI. Heuer was 1-for-3 with a game-leading two RBIs while
Victoria Reed had two hits in the 4-1 win.
The Eagles wrap up the series with the Fighting Knights tomorrow, Saturday, April 2. The game, which was originally scheduled for 1 pm, will now begin at 10am. Prior to the game the Eagles will honor their five seniors.
