MIAMI SHORES, Fla. – After relinquishing an early lead, the Embry-Riddle softball came from behind to match their highest run output of the season en route to capturing the series opener against Barry by a score of 10-5 at the Buccaneer Softball Field Friday night.
 
The Eagles (7-2, 4-0) continued their trend of scoring the first run of the game, as in the top of first inning with two outs, ReAnne Drayton singled back through the box to score Lisa Hop from second after she worked a two-out walk and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch.
 
The early lead however, would not last long, as the Bucs (7-11, 0-4) plated three in the bottom of the second inning. After Payton Germer drew a walk to lead off, Peyton Rawls doubled to left center following a stolen base, groundout and flyout to even things at 1-1. Barry would score two more runs on a couple of Eagle errors, as the combination of a mishandled pop-up and throwing miscue allowed Rawls and Karla Santiago to make it 3-1.
 
Embry-Riddle would answer back with a run in the top of the third, as Maggie Scott crossed home on a single up the middle by Hop after leading off the inning with infield knock.
 
Barry would get that run back rather quickly in the bottom of the frame, as Taylor Checkley led off with a triple and consequently scored on a single by Cassandra Lee to make it a 4-2 contest.
 
A big fifth inning saw the Eagles retake the lead, this time for good, as three runs came across to score. Lia Johnson scored the inning's first run as a wild pitch allowed her to come in from third after singling and stealing second and third. Hop and Drayton would reach with back-to-back singles, and after a Katy Thompson groundout moved both runners into scoring position, Michy Ramos would cash in with a single through the right side to plate both runners to make it a 5-4 ballgame.
 
ERAU would put things all but out of reach in the sixth inning, scoring five times to extend the lead to 10-4. Freshman Rachel Bryant got the festivities going after drawing a pinch-hit walk to begin the inning. Savannah Brockenbrough followed with a single, after which the floodgates opened. A bunt single to third from Scott got the runners moving, and a throwing miscue by the Bucs allowed Bryant to score and move Brockenbrough to third. A single by Johnson back through the box with the infield drawn in would allow Brockenbrough to score easily and move Scott to third. Hop would advance Johnson to third and drive in Scott with a bunt single, then get tagged out in a rundown on a stolen base attempt that would allow Johnson to cross home. Ramos would conclude scoring matters in the inning with a sacrifice fly to deep left field that would allow Drayton to score after she doubled and advanced to third on single from Thompson.
 
Barry would score one in their half of the sixth, as an infield single by Courtney Chisholm allowed Rylee Lord to cross after she opened the inning with a walk and worked her way around the bases to get to the final score of 10-5.
 
Jayla Jackson (3-1) would pick up the win in a relief role, entering the game in the second inning and working the final 5 1/3 innings, striking out seven and allowing two runs on six hits. Starter Lisa Hop worked just an inning and a third, allowing three runs, of which only one was earned, while striking out one and allowing a hit and a walk. ReAnne Drayton and Hop both carded three-hit games, while Maggie Scott and Lia Johnson had two hits each. All four Eagles scored twice, with Hop driving in two runs and Michy Ramos collecting three more RBI to bring her season total to nine.
 
Cassandra Lee (1-2) would take the loss for the Bucs, allowing five runs, four earned, in 6 2/3 innings of work, as she walked four and struck out three. Jordana Hartley appeared briefly in relief, working just 1/3 of an inning and being tagged for five runs, all of which came during the sixth inning. Taylor Checkley led Barry at the plate with a 2-4 performance, with Chisholm, Lee and Rawls each driving in a run as five different players scored in the games.
 
The series concludes with a doubleheader Saturday scheduled for a 1 p.m. start.