DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle softball team swept the visiting Nova Southeastern Sharks in a doubleheader on Friday evening. The Eagles won both games in run-rule shortened walk-off fashion off the bat of Raquelli Bianco. In the game one, Bianco launched a three-run homer over the center field fence in the bottom of the sixth for the 8-0 win. In game two, she hit a bases loaded double to drive the final two runs the Eagles needed to win it 9-1 in five innings. Securing the series win, the Blue and Gold are now 34-13 on the year while the Sharks drop to 12-38.
 
Game 1 - ERAU 8, NSU 0 (6 inn.)
 
The Eagles got out to 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first after turning a double play in the top half of the inning. Anna Battison had a lead off bunt and Bianco reached base on a walk. They advanced one base on a fly out by Kassidy Simons and then each scored as Robi Zimmerman doubled to right field.
 
In the bottom of the third, the home side added two more to their lead. Bianco hit a one-out double to left and Simons followed that up with a double of her own to deep center. Zimmerman then walked to load the bases. Haleigh Lewis pulled a single to left center to score Simons and Bianco to give the Eagles a 4-0 advantage.
 
The Eagles doubled their lead in the bottom of the sixth. Rae Heuer started things off with a 10-pitch walk. Kailah Rain then singled down the left field line. Up next, Battison singled to right center to score Heuer. Then needing three-runs to end the game early, Bianco smashed a ball over the center field fence to give the Eagles an 8-0 win over the Sharks.
 
Simons got the win in the circle to improve to 17-4 on the season. She allowed just two hits in the shutout, walking one and striking out five. At the plate, Bianco was 2-for-3 with three RBIs while Zimmerman was 1-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk.
 
Game 2 – ERAU 9, NSU 1 (5 inn.)
 
The Eagles picked up where they left off in game two, scoring in the first inning. Bianco singled through the right side to reach base and stole second base a pitch later. She made her way to first as Zimmerman walked to load the bases following Simons' fielder's choice. With the bases loaded, Lewis grounded out but Bianco was able to score on the play giving the Eagles an early 1-0 lead.
 
In the top of the second, the Sharks countered with a run of their own. Haley Gonzales got a one-out double to center field and advanced to third on a single by Sophia Devesa. Jessie Brown then singled to left center to score Gonzales tying the game at one apiece.
 
The home team broke the tie in the bottom of the third. Bianco, Simons and Zimmerman all walked to start the inning. Coming up with the bases loaded for the third time in the series, Lewis hit into a fielder's choice to score a run. Rain then pulled out an infield single to score another run, giving the home team a 3-1 advantage.
 
The Eagles ripped the game wide open with a six-run fifth inning. Zimmerman started the rally with a single up the middle. Lewis followed with a single to center and Heuer loaded the bases with a walk. Rain then smashed a ball down the left field line to clear the bases, giving the Eagles a 6-1 edge. Up next, Gabriella Obia walked followed by Natalie Morales loading the bases again on a fielder's choice. Battison then walked to earn the Eagles their seventh run of the game. Bianco then hit her second walk-off the night as she doubled to left center field to score Obia and Morales.
 
Bianco also contributed to the 9-1 win by pitching the complete game to earn her 10th win on the year. She allowed one run on three hits with six strikeouts. At the plate she was 2-for-3 with three RBIs. Rain was also 2-for-3 and drove in four RBIs, a career-best.
 
Embry-Riddle comes back for the final game of the 2016 season tomorrow, Saturday April 30. The Eagles go up against Nova Southeastern at 10am at the Embry-Riddle Softball Stadium.