DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle softball concluded a seven-game homestand on Wednesday afternoon with a doubleheader against the Columbus State University Cougars. The Eagles swept the doubleheader, winning game one by a final score of 11-0 and won game two 4-3. The Eagles have now won seven in a row and improve to 24-6 overall while Columbus State falls to 15-14.
Game 1
The Eagles bats were on fire to begin the first contest of the afternoon, scoring eight runs in the first inning alone.
Kailah Rain started the scoring off with an RBI single through the left side, allowing
Maggie Scott to score.
Katy Thompson hit an infield single to score
Mackie Chandler and Rain.
Destiny Carroll hit a two-RBI single to right field to score
Mariana Pereira and Thompson.
Lisa Hop used the squeeze play to perfection to drive in Lopez and reach base safely. In Scott's second plate appearance of the inning, she drove in the final two runs on a two-RBI single to center. After one inning the Eagles were in control 8-0.
The Blue and Gold tacked on three more runs in the second and third innings.
Destiny Carroll executed a squeeze bunt in the bottom of the second to score Thompson, increasing the lead to 9-0. In the bottom of the third, Thompson hit an RBI single to right to score Rain. Carroll drove in the final run of the game thanks to an RBI infield single to score Thompson. The Eagles shutout the Cougars the rest of the way en route to an 11-0 victory in five innings.
Jayla Jackson was the starting and winning pitcher for the Eagles. Jackson was dominant as she only allowed one hit in four innings pitched. Jackson also struck out five batters and walked just one. Hop pitched one inning in relief as she tallied two strikeouts and one walk. Three different Eagles went a perfect 3-3 at the plate in game one.
Mackie Chandler went 3-3 with three singles, one stolen base, and scored once.
Katy Thompson went 3-3 with a double, three runs, three RBIs, and stole two bases.
Destiny Carroll also hit 3-3 along with scoring once and driving in three.
Game 2
The Embry-Riddle offense slowed way down in game two, scoring just four runs in the contest. Columbus State scored their first run of the afternoon in the first inning off an RBI single through the left side. The Eagles evened the score in the bottom half of the frame thanks to
Katy Thompson hitting an RBI single to center field to score
Mackie Chandler.
The Blue and Gold took the lead in the bottom of the third as
Mariana Pereira hit an RBI double off the wall to score
Kailah Rain.
Katy Thompson continued her exceptional day at the plate with an RBI single to right to knock in Pereira. Columbus State would not go quietly as they tied the game in the top of the fifth with a sacrifice fly and an RBI double to center. Going into the bottom of the fifth, it was all even at 3.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning,
Mariana Pereira hit the first home run of her Embry-Riddle career on a bomb to right field. ERAU held the Cougars scoreless the rest of the way and went on to win by a final score of 4-3.
Ilona Andringa won her 15th game of the season as she pitched a complete game, allowed five hits, three runs (one earned), and struck out nine.
Katy Thompson once again hit a perfect 3-3 from the dish and drove in three runs as well.
Mariana Pereira went 2-3, scoring two runs and driving in two more.
Kailah Rain went 2-3 and scored once. This was the seventh win in a row for the Eagles making it the second longest win streak of the season.
Embry-Riddle returns to action on Friday, March 23 to take on Sunshine State Conference foe University of Tampa. The two schools will play a three-game series in Tampa, with one game on Friday and a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch of Friday's game is scheduled for 6 pm.
