Gulf Shores, Ala. – The Embry-Riddle softball team opened its season by competing in the Gulf Shores Invitational. The Eagles split their pair of games on Friday.
Jayla Jackson's complete-game shutout lifted ERAU (1-1) to a 7-0 win over Delta State (1-1) in the first game; however, the Eagle's bats went cold in a 4-2 loss against Lee (2-0)
In the season opener, the Blue and Gold plated three runs in the bottom of the third thanks to some clutch, two-out hitting from
Katy Thompson,
Jamie Mead and
Savannah Brockenbrough. Thompson started the rally with an RBI single down the right field line to score Jackson. Mead would drive in another run to plate Thompson and Brockenbrough followed with an RBI single of her own to give the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Three runs would be more than enough run support for Jackson who got the ball in the circle for the Eagles. The ERAU hurler would strikeout five batters in her first two innings pitched.
ERAU would continue to pad its lead in the fourth. Thompson hit a long, fly ball over the right fielder's head that would plate three runs and result in a triple for the sophomore. She would not be stranded on third for long as Mead would earn her second RBI of the game with a single.
Jackson was determined to do her job on the rubber. The junior had bases loaded jams in both the fourth and fifth innings, but she would be able to escape unscathed. The Eagles would add another insurance run in the sixth, courtesy of a Delta State error. Jackson would complete the shutout as the Eagles cruised to a 7-0 win in their first game of the season.
Thompson finished with three RBIs, two hits and two runs. Not to be out done, Mead added two hits and two RBIs of her own. Jackson earned the complete game shutout, allowing just four hits, with six strikeouts, while helping her own cause with a double at the plate. ERAU scored all its runs with two-outs.
ERAU tried to carry its momentum into its second game against Lee. The Eagles quickly built a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.
Maggie Scott's double set the table for
Mariana Pereira to tally an RBI single.
Lisa Hop was charged with holding the Eagle lead. She held the Flames to two scoreless innings, while striking out five Lee batters. Hop appeared to be cruising until the third inning. A single and a walk set up a 3-run home run by Bailey Church which gave the Flames a 3-1 lead.
The Eagles' luck ran out at the plate with ERAU loading the bases in the fourth and fifth innings but coming up empty. Lee added another run in the fourth inning to increase its lead to 4-1.
Scott would not let the Eagles go down without a fight. Her RBI single in the sixth inning cut the deficit to two; however, ERAU would end the inning with the bases loaded. The Blue and Gold got the tying run to the plate, but they were unable to score in the seventh.
Scott led the Eagle offense with three hits, two stolen bases, an RBI and a run scored. Pereira added two hits of her own. Hop finished with four earned runs in six innings pitched. She allowed eight hits while striking out eight.
The Blue and Gold will finish the Gulf Shores Invitational on Saturday with games against Auburn Montgomery and Alabama-Huntsville. First pitch against AUM takes place at 9 a.m. central time.
