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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Ortiz-Munoz_020423_DSC04163
Ryan Mosher
2
Ga. Southwestern GSW 1-1
8
Winner Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 1-0
Ga. Southwestern GSW
1-1
2
Final
8
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Ga. Southwestern GSW 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 2 7 2
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 0 2 3 0 0 3 X 8 9 1

W: Kinahan, Mallory (1-0) L: H. Holloway (0-1)

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

W: Domenici, Ava (1-0) L: M. Forrester (0-1) S: Morse, Shelby (1)

Game Recap: Softball | | Kyrin Mayfield | @k_mayfield97

Softball Goes Undefeated at Flagler Invitational

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - New season, same success. Two victories during Saturday's Flagler Invitational started the Embry-Riddle softball team's 2023 campaign on a strong note as the Eagles (2-0) downed Georgia Southwestern State (1-1) 8-2 and followed it up with a narrow 5-4 win over Flagler (0-2) to conclude the event. Embry-Riddle was the only program to win both of its games throughout the competition.

Originally, the Invitational was scheduled to be a two-day affair hosted by Flagler in St. Augustine. However, a forecasted torrential downpour on Friday forced the tournament to move an hour down Interstate 95 to Radiology Associates Field, home of the Embry-Riddle Eagles. 

There was no such thing as a benchwarmer on Saturday as 16 Eagles saw action on the field, including four in the circle. Five even earned their first starts as members of the Blue and Gold (Ashton Aycock, Raissa Bianco, Katriana Bain, Ava Domenici, Leah Oberkehr).


GAME 1 | Embry-Riddle - 8, Georgia Southwestern State - 2

For the fifth consecutive season, Embry-Riddle captured a win in the season-opening game. From start to finish, it was all Eagles. 

Before the Eagle bats even got going, it was Aycock who made an impressive double play in the top of the second. The second baseman caught a sinking line drive and threw to first before the runner could retreat in time.

The Blue and Gold used the energy generated from the impressive effort to produce at the plate during the next half inning. It was none other than Aycock who brought the first run of the game home when her ground ball allowed Karina Ortiz-Munoz to score. Isabelle Bonn followed right behind to push Oberkehr across home and drive the Eagles' lead up to 2-0.

One frame later, Embry-Riddle sent eight batters to the plate, which created three additional runs. A pair of errors, along with an RBI double from Lauren Latoria, allowed the Eagles to lengthen their lead to five runs. 

Starting pitcher Mallory Kinahan was dealing inside the circle. The sophomore held the Hurricanes to the minimum three batters in each of the first three innings. In the fourth, she struck out the first two opposing hitters. However, GSW mustered three consecutive hits to end the shutout with a run. 

The Hurricanes tacked on another in the fifth, but that's all they would earn.

Fortunately, Mahaliyah Sandridge came through for the squad with the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth. Her double to left center allowed Mallory Kinahan, Emma Wood, and Bianco to score, increasing the advantage to 8-2.

Wood later entered the circle in relief of Kinahan in the seventh and retired all three Hurricanes.

Nine Eagles registered a hit in the contest, while Sandridge did the most damage due to her three RBI, which tied a career high. Ortiz-Munoz led in runs with two. 

The Eagle pitching staff did a fantastic job as Kinahan and Wood issued no walks and collected four strikeouts. Kinahan came away with the win after limiting the Hurricanes to just two runs over six innings on seven hits with three strikeouts. 

Embry-Riddle remained undefeated against Georgia Southwestern State (4-0) in the all-time series. The Eagles also defeated the Hurricanes in last year's season-opening contest. 


GAME 2 | Embry-Riddle - 5, Flagler - 4

The situation was a bit more dicey in the second game of the evening. The first home run of the invitational belonged to Flagler's Madelyn Childs who went yard in the second inning. However, Embry-Riddle soon matched the Saints' score in the third on Mia Macchia's RBI single to plate Bain.

The Eagle offense surged once again in the fourth when Delaney Morgan and Kelsey Kressler each pushed a run across. Aycock capped off the frame with a sacrifice fly to left, which moved Bianco home as Embry-Riddle's third run of the inning and fourth of the game. 

A valuable insurance run was added in the six on a sacrifice bunt by Kressler. She tapped the ball toward the pitcher who threw it to first. On third, Morgan patiently waited for the pitcher to toss the ball before she sped toward home to beat the throw. 

With an out in the bottom of the seventh, victory was in sight for Embry-Riddle, but Flagler used another late-game surge, similar to when they scored three runs in the same frame to tie the game against Limestone earlier in the day. The Saints used two hits, a hit-by-pitch, two walks and a wild pitch to put the tying run 60 feet away and the winning run on second. Thankfully, the following Saint grounded out to end the game.

Domenici earned the win in her first collegiate start. She threw four innings and allowed only four hits and three walks. Shelby Morse entered the game in relief of Domenici in the fifth. She racked up three strikeouts over her three innings of work. 

In the batter's box, Delaney Morgan went 2-for-3 with two runs, an RBI, and a stolen base. Mia Macchia also amassed multiple hits over four at-bats with an RBI. 

With the two wins, Head Coach Kelsi Dunne Diaz moved to 193 wins at the helm of the program. The victory also evened the all-time series between the two squads at six games each.

Up next for Embry-Riddle is the Panther Invitational next weekend in Longwood, Fla. The Eagles play RV Wingate (1 p.m.) and No. 4 Auburn Montgomery (3:30 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 11 with a rematch against the Warhawks (1 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 12 followed by a meeting with West Florida (3:30 p.m.).
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