LAKELAND, Fla. – The Embry-Riddle softball team completed the sweep of Florida Southern on Thursday with a 2-0 win over the Mocs at Chris Bellotto Field. In total, the Eagles (27-14, 18-9 Sunshine State Conference) outscored Florida Southern (18-26, 7-20 SSC) 22-1 in the three-game slate and improved to 13-2 in the all-time series.
Additionally, it was Embry-Riddle's ninth shutout of the season.
The Mocs threatened in the fourth with a leadoff double. The next batter singled to right field, but
Lia Johnson got the ball in quickly to hold the runner at third. Fortunately, each of the following three batters were retired by the Eagle defense.
A half inning later, Embry-Riddle took the goose egg off the scoreboard with a pair of runs.
Savannah Brockenbrough recorded her first double of the season to get on base, which allowed
Mahaliyah Sandridge to drive her in with a single.
ReAnne Drayton pushed Sandridge to third on a base knock, setting Sandridge up to jog home when a wild pitch sailed past the catcher moments later.
Yet again, Florida Southern was in position to rally in the bottom of the fifth as they loaded the bases on an error and two bunt singles. Fortunately, the Eagles got out of the jam once more. After recording the first out of the inning on a fly ball to right field,
Kelsey Kressler made a big stop at the hot corner by grabbing a ground ball and throwing home for the second out of the inning. Embry-Riddle pitcher
Kelsi Collins was able to record the final out on a pop up back to the circle.
Both teams went down in order in the sixth, leading to a dramatic seventh inning. The Mocs put the tying run on base and had the winning run at the plate with one out. Thankfully,
Kelsi Collins struck out the ensuing batter for the second out and secured the win on a groundout to first.
Brockenbrough led the way at the dish by going 2-for-3 with a run. Sandridge was the lone Eagle to earn an RBI. She went 1-for-3 with a run scored.
Collins (19-6) leaves Lakeland after preventing Florida Southern from scoring in both of her starts. In game three of the series, the senior shut out the Mocs and limited them to six hits and two walks with a strikeout.
Embry-Riddle takes an eight-day break for final exams before traveling to Miami Shores to face Barry in the final series of the regular season beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, May 7 at 5:30 p.m.
