DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle softball team continued their seven-game homestand on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader against Sunshine State Conference opponent Florida Southern. The Eagles swept the doubleheader against the Mocs as the Eagles won game one by a final score of 9-1 and won game two 4-3. ERAU improves to 22-6 overall and 12-3 in SSC play while Florida Southern falls to 19-10 and 6-9 in conference play.
Game 1
The Eagles had to play catch-up in game one of the doubleheader against Florida Southern putting up one run in the top of first thanks to an RBI single to center. Embry-Riddle tied the game in the bottom of the second as
Mackie Chandler hit an RBI single to left to score
Katy Thompson. Going into the third inning, the game was tied at 1-1.
The Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the third, scoring two runs in the frame.
Peqe Lopez hit a two-RBI double to left field to bring in
Kailah Rain and
Eryn Chester. The Blue and Gold tacked on another run in the bottom of the fourth with
Kailah Rain hitting an RBI single to left to score Chandler. After four innings of play, the Eagles were up 4-1.
The Embry-Riddle offense exploded in the fifth, putting up four runs in the inning.
Katy Thompson reached on a costly throwing error by the Mocs third basewomen to score
Mariana Pereira. Another error by the Florida Southern third basewomen allowed Chandler to reach first and scored Thompson.
Maggie Scott drove in the final two runs of the inning with a two-RBI double to left field. The Eagles put the mercy rule into effect in the bottom of the sixth thanks to a sacrifice fly by
Peqe Lopez securing the 9-1 win for ERAU.
Jayla Jackson pitched a complete game for the Eagles, picking up her fifth win of the season. Jackson pitched six innings, allowed one run (earned), seven hits, walked one, and struck out three.
Peqe Lopez leads the way offensively as she went 2-3 with a double, one run, and drove in three.
Mackie Chandler also went 2-3 with one run and one RBI.
Maggie Scott hit 2-4 with two RBI's.
Kailah Rain also went 2-4 as she scored once and drove in one. This marked the 21st win of the season for Embry-Riddle.
Game 2
Game two was eerily similar to the start of game one, as Florida Southern got on the board in the top of the first again with an RBI single. However, the Eagles tied the game in the bottom half of inning with
Katy Thompson hitting an RBI single of her own. The Eagles took the lead in the bottom of the second, scoring to runs as
Maggie Scott had a two-RBI triple to right. ERAU lead 3-1 going into the third.
The game turned into a pitching duel with neither team scoring again until the sixth inning. Florida Southern tied the game in the top of the sixth thanks to a two-run home run. The Eagles failed to score the next two innings and the game went to extra innings with the score sitting at 3-3. Embry-Riddle held the Mocs scoreless in the top of the eighth and had a chance to win in the bottom of the frame.
Katy Thompson singled to begin the inning.
Peqe Lopez singled to left advancing Thompson to send. Unfortunately,
Destiny Carroll hit into a double play as Thompson was tagged out on the play. With a Lopez on second and two-outs,
Lisa Hop was the next batter. On a 2-0 count, Hop capitalized and hit a walk-off single to center to score Lopez! The Eagles won by a final score of 4-3 for their fifth win in a row.
Ilona Andringa got the start for game two and walked away with her 14th win of the season. Andringa pitched a complete game, allowed three runs (all earned), off seven hits, walked two, and struck out eight.
Lisa Hop hit 3-4, scored once and drove in the winning run.
Mackie Chandler,
Peqe Lopez, and
Katy Thompson all went 2-4 at the dish.
Embry-Riddle returns to action on Wednesday, March 21 to take on Columbus State. It will be a doubleheader between the two schools with the first pitch of game one scheduled for 3 p.m.
