WICHITA FALLS, Texas – The Embry-Riddle softball team began its spring break trip with a Texas-sized win on Tuesday. The Eagles blew out Midwestern State 10-2 in game one, and then narrowly escaped with a 6-5 victory in game two thanks to a four-run top of the seventh.
In total, Embry-Riddle (10-6) outscored the Mustangs (5-18) 16-7 and outhit MSU 29-9. The Eagles' 16 hits in game one and 13 hits in game two were their two-highest single-game hit totals of the season.
This was the first ever meeting between the two programs.
GAME 1 | ERAU - 10, MSU - 2
History was made in game one as
Maggie Scott started her 171st game for Embry-Riddle, breaking the program record of 170 held by Robi Zimmerman.
With just 12 extra-base hits on the season coming into the contest, the Eagles found some power in their bats against the Mustangs. Through the first two innings, Embry-Riddle used eight hits, including three doubles and a triple, to plate six runs.
Back-to-back singles from
Mahaliyah Sandridge and
Lia Johnson to start the game had both Eagles in position to score on
Lauren Latoria's double.
Karina Ortiz-Munoz mirrored Latoria's at-bat to push Embry-Riddle up 3-0 at the first half inning.
A walk and two wild pitches gave a run to the Mustangs in the bottom of the first, but the Eagles were not concerned as they doubled their score in the second frame. Three hits in a row, including a triple from Sandridge, pushed another three runners across home for the Blue and Gold to make the score 6-1.
Kelsi Collins, Embry-Riddle's starting pitcher, overpowered Midwestern State's batters as she registered four straight strikeouts over the second and third innings.
The runs continued to come in bunches for the Eagles in the fourth. After base knocks from Johnson and Scott,
ReAnne Drayton laid down a sacrifice bunt. The Mustangs' third baseman then missed the throw to first, allowing both baserunners to score.
A leadoff walk one half inning later led to a second run for MSU after an ERAU miscue to cut the lead to 9-2.
Following two scoreless frames, Sandridge launched a ball to center field for her second home run of the season and the Eagles' 10th run.
Johnson (3-for-4) and Sandridge (3-for-5) each tallied three hits, a season-high for both. Sandridge also accumulated three runs and three RBI while Johnson tied the program record for stolen bases in a game (3).
Lauren Latoria's two doubles allowed her to pick up three RBI as well.
Overall, Embry-Riddle recorded 16 hits, tied for seventh-most in a single game in the history of the program.
Collins (6-3) allowed two runs on four hits and four walks with six strikeouts. It was the sixth time in her last seven starts she held the opposition to two earned runs or less.
GAME 2 | ERAU - 6, MSU - 5
Offense was a bit harder to come by for the Eagles. Neither team added to the run column in the first two innings until Embry-Riddle used four singles to score
Savannah Brockenbrough and Scott in the top of the third for a 2-0 advantage.
Mallory Kinahan breezed through the first two innings in the circle. She retired each of the first seven batters faced in order.
Unfortunately, an Eagle error in the bottom of the third allowed the Mustangs to score a run. Embry-Riddle's slim lead was erased one frame later with a solo shot by the home team.
The bats went silent in the fifth and sixth innings. After the home run, Kinahan kept her squad in the game by retiring nine of the next 10 batters faced.
Seven of the game's 11 total runs came in the final inning of play. The Eagles broke the 2-2 stalemate when Latoria hit home Johnson and Scott. Ortiz-Munoz followed with her second double of the series to bring Kinahan, who pinch ran for Latoria, around the diamond.
Kelsey Kressler capped off the scoring with an RBI triple.
MSU didn't go away without a fight in the bottom of the seventh. A three-run home run made Embry-Riddle's lead evaporate to just one run. With two outs, a Mustang launched a ball to deep center that appeared as if it was going to leave the park and tie the game. Thankfully, it bounced off the fence, although the tying run was now on second base. A walk put the winning run on first, but the Eagles cut the rally off with a fly out to end the game.
Kressler went a perfect 3-for-3 at the dish, a season-high for the freshman. Scott led the Blue and Gold in runs (2) while Ortiz-Munoz contributed the most RBI (2).
Kinahan (4-3) got her pitching record back above .500 with her with a complete-game win against MSU. She allowed five runs on five hits and one free pass with one whiff.
Embry-Riddle will trek 172 miles east to Commerce, Texas, for a doubleheader with No. 20 Texas A&M-Commerce on Wednesday. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. CT, 5 p.m. ET.
