ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle softball team played their first Sunshine State Conference game of the season on Friday evening, going up against the Eckerd College Tritons. The Eagles defeated the Tritons 5-3 in eight innings of play. ERAU improves to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in SSC play while Eckerd drops to 3-6 and lost their first conference game.
 
The Tritons scored early in the ballgame, picking up one run in the bottom of the first on an RBI infield single. Fortunately, the Eagles took the lead in the top of the third picking up three runs in the frame.
 
Kailah Rain got things started for the Blue and Gold, hitting an RBI single to center, scoring Maggie Scott. Pege Lopez reached on an error by the Eckerd shortstop, scoring Rain on the play. Lopez scored on a Mariana Pereira RBI single for the third run of the inning. ERAU would lead 3-1 going into the bottom of the third.
 
Eckerd would not go down without a fight, scoring one run in the bottom of the fifth on an RBI single to right. The Tritons tied the game in the sixth with a suicide bunt, forcing extra innings.
 
The top of the eighth is all the Eagles would need, scoring two runs to win the game. Pereira knocked in Rain on an RBI single to center. Pereira came around to score on the ReAnne Drayton RBI single to right center to give the Blue and Gold a 5-3 lead win. 
 
Ilona Andringa picked up her third win of the season, pitching a gem for ERAU. Andringa pitched a complete game, had one earned run, gave up eight hits and struck out 12.  Pereira had her first RBI's of the season, going 3-4 with three singles, two RBI's and one run. Rain was solid at the plate as well, going 2-4 with one RBI and two runs.
 
The Eagles will conclude their three game series with Eckerd tomorrow, Feb. 17, with a doubleheader beginning at 12 pm.