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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

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Ryan Mosher
1
Winner Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 8-6
0
Carson-Newman CNU 14-2
Winner
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB
8-6
1
Final
0
Carson-Newman CNU
14-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 7 0
Carson-Newman CNU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0

W: Kinahan, Mallory (5-1) L: R. Sikes (3-1)

2
Winner Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 9-6
0
Lincoln Memorial LMU 15-9
Winner
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB
9-6
2
Final
0
Lincoln Memorial LMU
15-9
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 2 7 1
Lincoln Memorial LMU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 3

W: Morse, Shelby (2-5) L: E. Frost (8-3)

Game Recap: Softball | | Kyrin Mayfield | @k_mayfield97

Dunne Diaz Earns 200th Win After Softball Shuts Out No. 18 Lincoln Memorial and Carson-Newman

COLUMBUS, Ga. - Pitching was the storyline in day two of the NFCA DII Leadoff Classic as the Embry-Riddle softball team shut out both Carson-Newman and No. 18 Lincoln Memorial. The offense provided just enough run support to beat Carson Newman 1-0 and later upset the Railsplitters 2-0 in ERAU's first-ever meeting with those two programs. 

The victory over Lincoln Memorial (15-9) also marked career win No. 200 for head coach Kelsi Dunne Diaz, who is in her ninth year at the helm of the program. 


GAME 1 | Embry-Riddle - 1, Carson-Newman - 0

The Eagles (9-6) almost immediately chased Carson-Newman's starting pitcher from the game. Mahaliyah Sandridge and Mia Macchia received a free pass to first to start the contest, forcing a pitching change from CNU (14-2). Two batters later, Delaney Morgan earned a walk to load the bases, but ERAU was unable to capitalize on the opportunity.

Neither squad was able to advance a runner past second over the following two frames as both defenses were locked in. Carson-Newman was able to put the leadoff batter into scoring position in the bottom of the third, but starting pitcher Mallory Kinahan rung up the next two batters to keep the game scoreless.

In the fourth, ERAU generated another scoring chance after Raissa Bianco recorded a bunt single and Ashton Aycock was clipped by a pitch. Isabelle Bonn laid down a sacrifice bunt to move both runners over, but they were eventually left stranded on base.

Carson-Newman threatened to score in the bottom of the inning by also moving a runner over to third, but Kinahan came up clutch again with a strikeout to keep the score level.

However, Embry-Riddle continued to apply pressure in the fifth with back-to-back base knocks from Macchia and Karina Ortiz-Munoz. The Eagles were mere feet away from putting the first run up on the board on a single by Lauren Latoria to center field. Macchia rounded third and sprinted toward home while Ortiz-Munoz headed to third. Carson-Newman's center fielder hurled a long throw all the way to the third base bag, and Ortiz-Munoz was tagged out just before Macchia touched home plate, negating what could have been a scoring play.

When CNU then stepped up to hit, it put runners on the corners with no outs. Sandridge saved the day on a ground ball that she tossed home to nail the runner out who was attempting to score. The game remained 0-0 into the sixth.

In the top of the sixth, ERAU pounced at the opportunity to take the lead. Leah Oberkehr came in to pinch hit and worked her way to third from a left-field single, stolen base, and groundout. Bonn came up clutch with a single to right field to bring Oberkehr in to score the only run of the game. 

The bottom of the sixth saw Aycock make a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch while running out to shallow right field, but then things became tense in the bottom of the seventh. Carson-Newman planted the tying run on third after a leadoff single, sacrifice bunt, and wild pitch. Fortunately, Kinahan remained calm and struck out the next hitter. Now with two outs, the following batter grounded out to second, sealing the victory.

Macchia had the hot bat in game one, going 2-for-3 for her first multi-hit performance since the season-opener. Kinahan (5-1) was nearly untouchable in the circle en route to her sixth-career shutout. She limited CNU to seven hits and one walk while ringing up a season-high five batters. 

The victory over Carson-Newman ended CNU's seven-game win streak and was the first time this year Carson-Newman was kept off the scoreboard. 


GAME 2 | Embry-Riddle - 2 , No. 18 Lincoln Memorial - 0

It was a new game and a new pitcher for the Eagles, but the result was the same. Shelby Morse was practically unhittable in the circle in what would turn out to be a career outing for the freshman. To be fair, a lot of the credit should be shared with her eight teammates also in the field, as was evident by Raissa Bianco's sky-high leap at third base to snatch a line drive out of the air in the first inning. 

Then in the second, first baseman Ortiz-Munoz put her hand-eye coordination on display as she picked a short throw out of the dirt to end the inning.

Bonn's single to right got the bats going in the third. The right fielder allowed the ball to roll past her to the face, gifting Bonn an additional base. Sandridge was able to bring her fellow Eagle around to score on another hit to right to put ERAU ahead 1-0. 

Aycock tacked on an additional run in the fourth thanks to a sacrifice fly in foul territory by left field. Morgan sped home once the ball was caught to increase the Eagles' advantage to 2-0.

At the same time, Morse and the ERAU defense continued to shut LMU down on offense and had a no-hitter going into the fifth inning. The Railsplitters wouldn't go away quietly, though, as they loaded the bases with one out. Morse dialed in and froze the next batter on her strike-three pitch. The following hitter grounded out, and the Eagles escaped unscathed. 

Two more Railsplitters were sent down swinging in the sixth, and Embry-Riddle maintained a two-run cushion with one inning remaining. 

However, it was a heart-pounding seventh. Lincoln Memorial had two runners in scoring position and the winning run at the plate, but the Railsplitter flew out to right, securing the Eagles' second shutout of the day.

Seven different members of the Blue and Gold registered a hit in the contest, most notably Macchia, who bumped her hitting streak up to six games, and Ortiz-Munoz, who has now reached base in 13 straight contests. 

Morse (2-5) earned her first-career shutout and held LMU to three hits and three walks with five strikeouts.  

It was the program's 19th win over a ranked opponent, and second this year, as well as its first victory against a No. 18 team. 

There's little time to relax as Embry-Riddle is right back on the field on Tuesday, Feb. 28 for a home doubleheader versus No. 25 Wilmington at 3 p.m. The Wildcats are yet another team the Eagles will be facing for the first time in program history.
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