SAVANNAH, Ga. – The Embry-Riddle softball team opened the 2020 season in style with strong pitching performances and an offensive outburst en route to a sweep of the afternoon at the Lady Tiger Round Robin, defeating host Savannah State in the opener 10-0, and Claflin 9-2 in the nightcap.
 
In the opener, things stayed scoreless until the third inning when Embry-Riddle managed to get the offense going Maggie Scott led the inning off with a triple to centerfield. After Lia Johnson reached on an infield single and advanced to second on the play, Katy Thompson lined a single to centerfield to pick up her first two runs batted in of the year. Two batters later, Michy Ramos singled to bring home Thompson and make it 3-0.
 
The Eagles added a run in the fourth to make it 4-0, as after sending nine batters to the plate the previous inning, Scott led off again, this time with a single. After stealing second and advancing to third on a groundout by Johnson, she would come in to score on a base hit from Thompson.
 
In the fifth, the Eagles would extend their lead to 7-0 with an RBI single by Johnson to score Rachel Bryant after she led off the inning with a walk. Two more Eagle runs in the persons of Scott and Johnson would score on bases loaded walks drawn by ReAnna Drayton and Savannah Brockenbrough.
 
Three more runs would come home for the Blue & Gold in the sixth inning, as following singles to start the inning by Bryant and Lisa Hop, Scott collected her second triple of the afternoon and picked up her first her two runs batted in of 2020. Scott would score for the fourth time moments later on a groundout to second base by Johnson.
 
The Eagles finished the mercy rule-shortened game with 18 hits, with six players turning in multi-hit efforts, as Scott, Johnson, Thompson and Drayton all had three hits, while Brockenbrough and Hop had two each. Thompson led the way with three RBI and Scott drove in two of her own. Johnson and Rachel Bryant both scored twice, with Bryant recording her first collegiate hit with a single to start the sixth inning.
 
Jayla Jackson (1-0) was masterful in her first start of 2020, as she spun a six-inning no-hitter, the first of her career and third in the history of Embry-Riddle softball. Kassidy Simons worked the first no-hitter for the Eagles against Fisher on March 9, 2016, while Ilona Andringa turned in a perfect game against USC-Aiken on March 13, 2018. The senior from Belleville, Michigan faced one over the minimum while striking out a career-high 13.
 
Shayna Byers was the lone baserunner for Savannah State (0-2) in the contest, reaching on a walk in the second inning, as the offense was all but shut down by Jackson. Alisyn Ferrell was charged with the loss in the circle in her collegiate debut, walking six and striking out three. Saturday marked the first games for the Lady Tigers at the Division II level in two decades, as the university previously competed at the Division I level in the MEAC since 2000. 
 
The nightcap saw Claflin (1-1) score the first run in the bottom of the first inning. Following a two-out walk by Jaelyn Jackson, Chaston Huntly doubled down the line in left field to give the Lady Panthers an early lead.
 
After a scoreless second inning, Embry-Riddle answered with a big third inning that saw 10 batters go to the plate and produce six runs on a string of out two-out hits, which included three doubles. Lisa Hop led off with a bunt single and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Maggie Scott. Katy Thompson started the two-out rally with a single to score Hop, the first of six consecutive hits as ReAnne Drayton and Michy Ramos both picked up RBI doubles. Savannah Brockenbrough reached on a single and scored shortly after with Ramos as Jayla Jackson doubled to centerfield. Jamie Mead concluded the scoring with a single to right field to bring Jackson around.
 
Claflin would respond with a run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI double double by Jada Ames to score Huntly.
 
After exchanging zeros in the fourth inning, ERAU erupted for three more runs in the fifth inning. After a Ramos walk to lead the inning off, Jackson reached on an error with one out that was followed by a Mead single. Hop then singled to plate the first two runs, and a sacrifice fly by Maggie Scott plated the inning's third tally for Embry-Riddle to make it a 9-2 game.
 
Kelsi Collins (1-0) picked up the win in her Embry-Riddle debut. The 2019 NJCAA Player of the Year went the distance, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out five. Ramos turned in a 2-3 game with a pair of runs scored, while Hop and Jackson both went 2-4 with two runs batted in. All nine starters recorded a hit in the contest for the Eagles.
 
Huntly and Ames led the Claflin offense, as the pair combined to go 4-6 and were responsible for driving in both Lady Panther runs. Bre'Zhay Chambers took the loss in the circle, allowing nine earned runs on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings of work. She recorded five strikeouts against one walk before handing things over to Shaniya Thomas for the final 2 2/3 innings of action.
 
Next up for the Embry-Riddle will be the Old Coast Classic in St. Augustine, Florida, where the Eagles will play host Flagler Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m., and Valdosta State and Wingate Feb. 8 at 11:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.