DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle Softball team swept the No. 17 Rollins Tars in a doubleheader on Wednesday evening to pick up the series win. The Eagles won the first game 2-0 and the outlasted the Tars to win the final game 7-6 in 11 innings. Kassidy Simons threw 223 pitches between the two games to pick up two wins. In the first game she pitched a complete game shutout allowing just two hits while striking out seven. The Eagles won game two on a walk-off sacrifice fly from Raquelli Bianco to score Anna Battison in the bottom of the 11th. The Eagles are now 30-12 on the year while Rollins falls to 33-9-1.
 
Game 1- ERAU 2, RC 0
 
Niki Fogle and Simons squared off in a pitchers' duel in game one of the doubleheader. Through five and a half innings the score was knotted at zero.
 
The Eagles had just three hits prior to scoring in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, Bianco ripped a triple just barely in fair territory. Simons followed that up with a single up the middle to score Bianco. Then with two outs, Haleigh Lewis doubled over the center fielders head to score Simons and give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Tars threatened as Chelsea Reed led off with an infield single. Courtney Durbin then reached base on a fielder's choice that advanced Reed to second base. Hannah Horwarth then hit into a fielder's choice as well that put Reed on third. The Eagles were able to keep the clean slate as Robi Zimmerman had an unassisted put out at first base for the 2-0 win.
 
Simons improved to 14-4 in the circle following the win. She struck out seven and allowed no runs and just two hits. At the plate, Simons was 2-for-3 while scoring a run and picking up an RBI. Bianco also scored a run and went 2-for-3 in the game with a double and a triple. Lewis recorded the other Eagle RBI also going 2-for-3 with a double.
 
Game 2 – ERAU 7, RC 6 (11 inn.)
 
Rollins got on the board first in game two, scoring in the top of the first inning. Jule Kranz singled through the left side and stole second base. Chelsea Reed then followed with a triple to right center field to score Kranz. On the same play, Reed was able to take home on an overthrown ball as she headed to third base.
 
In the bottom of the first and the top of the second the Eagles and the Tars each had runners reach third base. Neither team was able to get a run across the board as the visitors held onto their 2-0 lead.
 
The Tars increased their lead in the top of the third however. Hailee Keisling singled up the middle to start things off. Tiffany Osmanski then homered for the second time in the series to give Rollins a 4-0 advantage.
 
The Eagles answered in the bottom of the third, scoring three runs. Natalie Morales started the inning with a singled through the left side. She made her way to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Anna Battison and then a wild pitch. Morales then scored as Raquelli Bianco hit into fielder's choice. Simons then doubled to center field, allowing Bianco to score. In a long at bat, Zimmerman was also able to double, this time to right field. Simons scored on the play cutting the Tars lead to just one, 4-3.
 
The score line didn't stand for long though as Rollins added two more runs in the top of the fourth. Brianne Lint led off with a single and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. She was able to score as Keisling hit a long single off the fence in right field. Osmanski then singled to score another run giving Rollins a 6-3 lead over the Blue and Gold.
 
In the bottom half of the inning the Eagles once again cut Rollins lead to just a run. Heuer lead off with a walk and advanced to second on a bunt single from Kailah Rain. Morales slammed a double to left center field to score Heuer and Rain, making the score 6-5.
 
The Blue and Gold were able to tie the game at six apiece in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Battison singled up the middle and stole second base. Simons then doubled to right center field to drive in Battison.
 
The 6-6 score line would remain as the game moved into extra innings. The Eagles turned two double plays to keep the Tars off the scoreboard. One was the top of the seventh and another in the top of the ninth. The latter was an excellent individual effort from third baseman Gabriella Obia. She caught a line drive and without missing a beat stepped on third base to end the inning.
 
In the bottom half of the ninth, Rollins turned a double play of their own to keep the game alive. The Eagles threatened again however in the bottom of the 10th. Lewis started with an infield single. Mckenzee Quinn came into pinch run and made her way to third base on a sacrifice bunt and a ground out. She was unable to score however as Fogle forced another ground out to retire the side.
 
The Tars got back-to-back walks in the top of the 11th but with two outs Osmanksi lined out to Lewis at shortstop to end the inning.
 
Moving to the bottom of the 11th, Anna Battison got a one-out single to shallow center field. She stole second base and made her way to third on a wild pitch. Up next, Raquelli Bianco was able to lift a fly ball to left field. Battison tagged up to score and give the home team a walk-off 7-6 win over the Tars.
 
Like the first game, Simons got the win in the circle. She threw eight innings, allowing two runs on eight hits and struck out five. Simons was a force again at the plate for the Eagles, going 3-for-5 with two doubles, scoring a run and picking up 2 RBI's. Morales also had a double while scoring a run and driving in two runs. Bianco also had two RBI's including the all-important last run.
 
The Eagles look to keep the momentum as they go on the road to take on Eckerd in a three-game series next weekend. First-pitch is set for 7pm on Friday, April 22nd with a doubleheader to conclude the series on Saturday beginning at 1pm.