DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle softball team earned a series win on Saturday by splitting its doubleheader against Palm Beach Atlantic at the ERAU Softball Stadium.
 
Both games were tightly contested pitcher's duels. ERAU (18-17, 10-11 Sunshine State Conference) trailed PBA (23-19, 11-10 SSC) by one game heading into the day, and it seemed like both teams were evenly matched. The Eagles got the loss in game one despite Lisa Hop tossing a complete game without giving up and earned run. PBA took advantage of an Eagle error to win, 1-0.
 
Jayla Jackson picked up where Hop left off by throwing a complete game shutout in game two. The Eagles backed the junior pitcher with two runs which turned out to be more than Jackson needed. She allowed six hits in seven innings with five strikeouts, and ERAU won the matchup 2-0.
 
Today's doubleheader concluded a strong series for the Eagle pitching staff. In three games, the ERAU hurlers allowed one earned run with 15 strikeouts.
 
Game one included two dominant pitching performances. Both teams combined for just four hits. PBA scored the lone run in the second inning after an overthrow by the Eagles on a play at third base allowed the Sailfish runner to score.
 
The Eagles' best chance to score came in the bottom of the fifth. With one out in the inning, Back-to-back infield singles by Michy Ramos and ReAnne Drayton put runners on first and second. The runners were stranded after two quick outs. PBA allowed three runners on base in its 1-0 win.
 
Game two was nearly identical to the first game as both team's offense struggled to string hits together.
 
Jackson worked her way out of hot water in the top of the first. PBA led off the game with two infield singles. A groundout, a caught stealing and a flyout got the Michigan native out of the inning unscathed.
 
ERAU mustered just two hits until the fourth inning when the Eagles finally broke through. Katy Thompson started the one-out rally with a single through the right side. Ramos followed with a single of her own. The bases were loaded after Savannah Brockenbrough was hit by a pitch. Drayton got the Eagles on the board with a single to right field. Callie Rodriguez made it a 2-0 game with an RBI single of her own.
 
Jackson took care of the rest in the circle. She allowed one hit in the game's final three innings to notch her 10th win of the season. ERAU combined for six hits in the 2-0 win.
 
The Eagles continue SSC play next weekend when they travel to face Rollins. First pitch in Winter Park, Florida, takes place Friday at 6 p.m.