TAMPA, Fla. – In what was one of the biggest upsets in program history, the 23rd-ranked Embry-Riddle softball team squeaked past No. 6 Tampa 1-0 for the team's first-ever win against an NCAA II top-10 opponent on Friday evening at the Naimoli Family Softball Field.
 
The Eagles (18-7, 10-3 Sunshine State Conference) handed the Spartans (23-9, 11-5 SSC) their first loss since March 5. Additionally, it was Embry-Riddle's first win over Tampa since 2018.
 
Both starting pitchers were warmed up from the start. The Eagles knew runs would be tough to manufacture as they were facing the pitcher with the second-lowest ERA in the SSC, Mariah Galhouse (0.88). She kept the Blue and Gold's bats in check by retiring the side in four of the first five innings.
 
However, Kelsi Collins and the Embry-Riddle defense kept the squad in the game with nearly flawless play. The Spartans only put two runners in scoring position through the opening five frames. Some credit can be given to the human airplane Maggie Scott as she dove to catch a ball in center field to rob Tampa of a leadoff hit in the third.
 
Then in the fifth, some strong, timely hitting helped the Eagles score the only run of the contest. With two outs, Mahaliyah Sandridge hit a triple to right field and then capitalized on a pinch-hit single from Lia Johnson to score.
 
Tampa did manage to put the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh, but Collins shut the door by striking out the final batter.
 
Johnson, Karina Ortiz-Munoz, and Sandridge each tallied a hit in the contest.
 
Collins (12-3) pushed her winning streak to eight with her complete-game shutout against the Spartans. She allowed only five hits and no walks with three strikeouts.
 
Weather permitting, both squads return to the field for a doubleheader tomorrow at noon.