DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle softball team ended its homestand on Tuesday with a doubleheader against West Georgia.
The first game of the day was all ERAU (14-12, 6-6 SSC). A four-run fifth inning, including a game-ending home run by
Lisa Hop, enacted the mercy rule as the Eagles won 8-0. Game two was also a lopsided affair in which West Georgia (18-17, 5-11 GSC) won 7-1 in a game that was called in the sixth due to rain.
After two quick outs to start game one, the Eagles went to work with two outs.
Mariana Pereira singled up the middle to start the two-out rally. She scored on an RBI double by
Katy Thompson to give ERAU a 1-0 lead.
That was all the run support
Jayla Jackson needed in the circle. The junior efficiently made her way through the West Georgia lineup. Jackson earned the shutout in five innings pitched on just 64 pitches.
ERAU extended its lead in the bottom of the fourth.
Jamie Mead's one—out double, followed by a double by Hop, made it a 2-0 ballgame.
Maggie Scott kept the rally going with a single up the middle and a stolen base. Hop and Scott scored on an error by the Wolves to make the score 4-0.
The momentum carried into the fifth inning for the Eagles. Thompson started the inning with a single and stolen base. She advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by
Michy Ramos. Singles by Mead and
Callie Rodriguez set the table for Hop. The sophomore sent a high fly ball over the right field fence for a three-run home run to end the game and give ERAU an 8-0 win.
Mead led the Eagles with three hits and two runs scored. Pereira, Thompson and Hop had two hits each. Hop totaled four RBIs in the game.
Roles for each team reversed in a second game that saw two rain delays. West Georgia took the lead with three runs on three hits in the top of the second. The Wolves added another run in the third to make it a 4-0 ballgame.
ERAU attempted to fight back in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff single by Scott where she advanced to second on a throwing error started the inning. She scored on a single by
Lia Johnson that caused another throwing error by West Georgia. The Eagles' momentum stalled as Johnson was called out for leaving early to try to steal second. ERAU mustered two more baserunners in the inning, but the inning ended with the Wolves leading 4-1.
West Georgia took control in the top of the fourth with three runs to make it a 7-1 game. The Eagles were unable to answer in the fourth or fifth innings. The game was called due to rain in the top of the sixth.
Scott increased her hit streak to 11 games in the second contest.
The Eagles go back on the road to face Florida Southern in a three-game series this weekend. First pitch on Friday takes place at 6 p.m.
