FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle softball team finished its season series against Nova Southeastern in a Saturday doubleheader.
After winning game one of the series on Friday, the Eagles' looked to finish the weekend with their second straight conference sweep. ERAU (11-7, 4-2 Sunshine State Conference) was in position to win both games on Saturday; however, a lack of focus and a resilient NSU (11-9, 4-2 SSC) team caused the Blue and Gold to drop both games of the doubleheader.
The Eagles built a 3-0 lead in game one, but the Sharks rallied for nine runs in the sixth inning. NSU won the first matchup 9-3. In game two, ERAU took a 7-2 lead into the seventh frame, but it was unable to get the elusive final three outs as the Sharks walked off with a 8-7 win.
NSU handed the Eagles their first pair of SSC losses of the season.
Katy Thompson got the Eagles on the board in the first inning of game one. Her double to right field scored
Mariana Pereira to give ERAU a 1-0 lead to start the day.
ERAU added to its lead in the top of the fourth. A single, error and two stolen bases put runners on second and third with one out.
Savannah Brockenbrough scored on a groundout by
Lia Johnson.
Maggie Scott followed with an RBI single to left field to make it a 3-0 ballgame.
Control issues and errors came back to bite the Eagles in the bottom of the sixth. The Sharks loaded the bases after two walks and a fielder's choice. Back-to-back bases-loaded walks gave NSU its first two runs of the contest. A single that got by the ERAU leftfielder cleared the bases and gave the Sharks a 5-3 lead with a runner on third and still no outs. Another fielder's choice made it a 6-3 ballgame. Nova Southeastern put an exclamation point on the rally with a three-run home run to take a 9-3 lead.
The Eagles mustered a baserunner in the top of the seventh, but NSU won game one 9-3. The loss snapped the Blue and Gold's eight game winning streak.
Brockenbrough led the Eagles with two hits, a stolen base and run scored.
Lisa Hop tossed five innings in the circle. She gave up four earned runs on just three hits.
Jayla Jackson pitched one inning in relief.
Game two got off to a similar start for ERAU. RBIs by Brockenbrough and
Meritxell Blesa gave the Eagles a 2-0 lead to start the game. NSU answered with a run of its own in the bottom of the inning.
RBI doubles by Brockenbrough and
ReAnne Drayton increased the Eagle lead to 5-1 in the third inning. It became a 6-1 ballgame in the fourth after an RBI single from Drayton. NSU scored its second run of the game in the bottom of the inning.
Callie Rodriguez' RBI single in the fifth added another insurance run for the Blue and Gold.
The Sharks scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh on four hits, two walks and a hit by pitch. NSU stole game two by a score of 8-7.
Brockenbrough and Drayton led ERAU with two hits and two RBIs each.
Next weekend, the Eagles will travel to face the defending South Region champions, Saint Leo. Game one of the three-game series will start at 7 p.m. on Friday.
