ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A rally in the late innings by the Embry-Riddle softball team fell just short Friday night in the Eagles' opening game of the Old Coast Classic, as host Flagler held on to win by a final score of 2-1. The Eagles (2-1) were held in check most of the night on offense, managing just five hits against Saints pitching.
 
After both teams exchanged zeros on the scoreboard for the first two innings, Flagler (5-1) broke through in the third inning with two outs to score the first run of the ballgame. After Jayla Jackson retied the first two Saints of the innings via the strikeout, Natalie Murphy singled to shallow right center to get things going. Following a deep single by Kyleigh Taylor to get Murphy to third, Maria Kappos singled back through the box to bring Murphy in for the first tally of the game.
 
Flagler would tack on another run in the fourth to make it a 2-0 game. After Alyssa Velez led the inning off with a single, Jamie Greenwood entered the game as a pinch runner. Following a walk, a wild pitch to advance both runners and a strikeout, Paige Maseda attempted a safety squeeze. The Eagles defense read the play and Lisa Hop was able to tag Maseda out on her way to first, but her flip to Katy Thompson at the plate was just late, allowing Greenwood to score.
 
The Eagles got the offense going late, as they plated a run in the sixth. ReAnne Drayton led the inning off with a line single to center field and stole second base just a few pitches later. After a Jamie Mead walk, a passed ball allowed both runners to move into scoring position. With Savannah Brockenbrough at the plate, a comebacker to pitcher Madelyn Wise, was mishandled by Natalie Murphy at first base, and the recovery and throw home was too late to get Drayton as the Eagles made it a 2-1 game.
 
The Blue & Gold would have a chance to tie the game in the seventh, as Lia Johnson singled with one out to start the rally. After advancing to second on a groundout by Thompson, Johnson was caught stealing at third on a pitch in the dirt for the final out of the ballgame.
 
Jackson (1-1) took the loss in the circle despite another strong outing. The senior surpassed her opening day mark by striking out 14 Saints in her six innings of work against four walks and four hits. Jackson also made some career history, as with her strikeout of Taylor to end the bottom of the first, she became the fifth pitcher in Eagle softball history to reach the 200 strikeout mark for her career. Maggie Scott and Johnson both recorded 2-4 performances, while Drayton went 1-2 with the lone Eagle run and Brockenbrough was credited with the RBI.
 
Madelyn Johnson (1-1) picked up the win for Flagler, striking out six and walking a pair while holding the Eagles to five hits. Natalie Murphy went 1-3 with a run, while Taylor, Kappos and Velez recorded the rest of hits for the Saints.
 
The Eagles will wrap up play at the Old Coast Classic Saturday, starting with an 11:30 a.m. contest against NFCA preseason 24th-ranked Valdosta State, and ending the day with a 7 p.m. matchup with Wingate.