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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Bianco_030423_IMG_5809
Maggie Allen
0
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 15-13, 2-6 SSC
2
Winner Saint Leo SLU 27-3, 10-1 SSC
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB
15-13, 2-6 SSC
0
Final
2
Saint Leo SLU
27-3, 10-1 SSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0
Saint Leo SLU 0 0 0 0 1 1 X 2 10 1

W: Morgan Shannon (3-0) L: Morse, Shelby (4-9) S: Kayla Betts (4)

2
Winner Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 16-13, 3-6 SSC
0
Saint Leo SLU 27-4, 10-2 SSC
Winner
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB
16-13, 3-6 SSC
2
Final
0
Saint Leo SLU
27-4, 10-2 SSC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 2 2 1
Saint Leo SLU 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 2

W: Kinahan, Mallory (9-4) L: Haleigh Thomas (5-1)

Game Recap: Softball | | Kyrin Mayfield | @k_mayfield97

Softball Defeats Fourth Ranked Opponent of Season; Splits Friday Doubleheader with No. 20 Lions

SAINT LEO, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle softball team salvaged a three-game series with No. 20 Saint Leo on Friday by shutting out the Lions 2-0 in game three after a 2-0 setback in game two. The victory ended SLU's (27-4, 10-2 Sunshine State Conference) 10-game win streak. It was the Eagles' (16-13, 3-6 SSC) fourth win of the season against ranked opposition and capped off a tough stretch that saw the Blue and Gold play 15 of 29 games against teams ranked or receiving votes in the national poll. 


GAME 1 | Embry-Riddle - 0, No. 20 Saint Leo - 2

A wild obstruction play occurred two batters into the contest when Mahaliyah Sandridge sent a hard shot back to the right field fence. As she rounded first, she made contact with the Lions' first baseman. Still on her feet, Sandridge received the green light to round third and head home. After she touched the third base bag, the junior collided with the umpire and was eventually tagged out on her way home. At first, Sandridge was ruled safe due to the obstruction, but after 20 minutes of deliberating, the call was overturned, and the out was upheld.

Another scoring opportunity presented itself in the second after Delaney Morgan reached second from a dropped fly ball by Saint Leo's second baseman. Morgan moved to third on a sacrifice bunt while Raissa Bianco then took a base on balls. Bianco took off to second to try and bait a throw, which she did. However, the second baseman cut the throw off in front of the base and threw home to nail Morgan trying to score.

In the bottom of the inning, the Lions juiced the bases with one out, but the Eagles escaped the jam as starting pitcher Shelby Morse struck out a batter, and Sandridge leaped up to catch an inning-ending line drive at shortstop.

Saint Leo threatened again in the fourth with two runners in scoring position after a single, walk and double steal, but Morse shut the door as she got the batter to chase on a pitch up and away to end the inning.

However, the Lions broke the stalemate in the fifth. Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases with one out for the next Saint Leo hitter who sent a base hit through the right side to score the first run. 

The Eagles' last gasp came in the sixth. Despite Saint Leo inserting their ace, Kayla Betts, into the circle, Sandridge was patient at the plate and earned a walk. The Chickamauga, Georgia, native then stole second, but she was eventually left stranded. 

Saint Leo tacked on a second run in the bottom of the sixth.

Mia Macchia and Sandridge were the only Eagles to record hits in the game. Morse (4-9) lasted 4.2 innings and gave up one earned run on seven hits and two walks with three strikeouts. Emma Wood pitched 1.2 innings in relief and allowed one earned run on three hits. 

Embry-Riddle is protesting the game due to the overturned obstruction call.


GAME 2 | Embry-Riddle - 2, No. 20 Saint Leo - 0

Both squads found little success at the plate to start game two of the doubleheader, combining for one hit through the first four frames. Mallory Kinahan was dealing in the circle as the sophomore struck out the first two Lions she faced.

Despite the lack of hits, Embry-Riddle still managed to put runners on base. The Eagles stayed disciplined while in the batter's box and earned four walks over the first three innings.

The Blue and Gold grabbed its first run and lead of the series in the top of the fourth without even recording a hit. A fielding error by Saint Leo's shortstop allowed the leadoff batter Karina Ortiz-Munoz to reach base. Leah Oberkehr came in to pinch run and moved to third on an errant throw from the Lions' pitcher. With one out, Raissa Bianco laid a sacrifice bunt down the third base line but was thrown out. Once the ball was thrown to first, Oberkehr sprinted home and dove head first for a 1-0 Eagle lead. 

Saint Leo threatened to tie the game multiple times over the next two innings. In the fourth, the Lions had a runner on third with one out. The next batter lined out to Macchia in left and the outfielder rifled the ball home in time for Isabelle Bonn to tag out the runner. 

Then in the sixth, Saint Leo managed to move a runner to third once again. This time it was Bianco who saved the day as she ran to her left to collect a ground ball and tossed it home to throw out another runner attempting to score. 

The Eagles tacked on a valuable insurance run in the top of the sixth. Sandridge and Lauren Latoria notched the first two hits of the game for ERAU to start the frame. Two batters later, Morgan put a bunt down that Sandridge took advantage of and scored from second.

Saint Leo worked a runner into scoring position in the sixth and even put the tying run on base, but Kinahan slammed the door by getting the next Lion batter to swing and miss for strike three.

Latoria's and Sandridge's hits in the sixth were the only singles of the game for the Blue and Gold. Kinahan (9-4) recorded her seventh-career shutout, tying her for the third most in program history. She allowed only five hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Also of note, Kinahan moved up into eighth on the program's all-time innings pitched list with 190.1.

In the field, Sandridge notched six assists during the series to give her 125 for her career and move her into sixth on the all-time list.

Softball returns home next week for a series against Florida Tech beginning on Friday, March 24 at 4 p.m.
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