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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Macchia_030423_IMG_5917
Maggie Allen
4
Florida Tech PANTHERS 17-18, 7-10 SSC
6
Winner Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 17-14, 4-7 SSC
Florida Tech PANTHERS
17-18, 7-10 SSC
4
Final
6
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB
17-14, 4-7 SSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Florida Tech PANTHERS 1 0 1 0 2 0 0 4 4 4
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 0 0 3 0 3 0 X 6 7 5

W: Morse, Shelby (5-9) L: S. Guider (5-4)

4
Florida Tech PANTHERS 17-19, 7-11 SSC
5
Winner Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 18-14, 5-7 SSC
Florida Tech PANTHERS
17-19, 7-11 SSC
4
Final
5
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB
18-14, 5-7 SSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Florida Tech PANTHERS 1 1 0 0 0 0 2 4 5 1
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 1 1 2 0 0 0 1 5 7 6

W: Kinahan, Mallory (10-5) L: S. Guider (5-5)

Game Recap: Softball | | Kyrin Mayfield | @k_mayfield97

Macchia’s Walk-Off Single Helps Softball Take Series From Panthers With Saturday Doubleheader Sweep

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle softball team continued with its dramatic flair as the Eagles walked it off for the sixth time this season in a 6-4 and 5-4 doubleheader sweep over Florida Tech on Saturday at Radiology Associates Field. The pair of victories secured ERAU's first series win against the Panthers (17-19, 7-11 Sunshine State Conference) since 2017.

Though the Eagles (18-14, 5-7 SSC) did outhit FIT 14-9 on the day, a combined 16 defensive miscues occurred with 11 coming from the Blue and Gold. Despite the fielding woes, ERAU remained resilient and overcame four deficits throughout the two contests.


GAME 1 | Florida Tech - 4, Embry-Riddle - 6

Of the 10 runs scored in game one, nine were unearned due to nine combined errors. Oddly enough, the only earned run was the first run when the Panthers' leadoff batter in the first reached with a single, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt, and then scored on a throwdown to second. 

Florida Tech tacked on a second run in the third thanks to two errors, but Embry-Riddle clawed back in the bottom half of the inning. An error followed by singles from Mia Macchia and Mahaliyah Sandridge loaded the bases with one out. Emma Wood grounded out to second to score Raissa Bianco for ERAU's first run. Then an error by Florida Tech's first baseman on a grounder from Lauren Latoria allowed Macchia and Sandridge to race all the way home to put the Eagle up 3-2.

Both squads were retired in order in the fourth, which led up to a scoring outburst in the fifth. The Panthers retook the lead 4-3 with another pair of errors coupled with an RBI double. Embry-Riddle immediately responded with a two-out rally. Macchia reached base again, this time via an error on the shortstop. Sandrdige then smoked a pitch to right for her third triple of the season and eighth of her career, tied for the second most in program history, to plate Macchia. Wood kept the inning alive with a double down the left field line, which brought Sandridge in to score. Latoria capped off the surge with an RBI single to bring Wood in.

The Eagle defense kept Florida Tech hitless from there on out to even the series.

Sandridge was red hot, going 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI. Macchia recorded one hit in three at-bats with two runs, and Wood finished 1-for-3 with a run and two RBIs.

Shelby Morse (5-9) returned to the win column with a complete game. She allowed four runs, only one earned, off of four hits and two walks with two strikeouts.


 
GAME 2 | Florida Tech - 4, Embry-Riddle - 5

As was the case all series, the Panther struck first with the leadoff batter, who received a base on balls. The runner stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error, and eventually scored on a sacrifice bunt by beating out the throw home. 

The tandem of Sandridge and Wood wiped away the deficit when Sandridge picked up her team-best 10th double of the season and 21st of her career, the seventh-most on the program's all-time list. She then easily came in to score on Wood's double to left. 

Both teams added a run in the second. Florida Tech capitalized on an overthrow to first after a leadoff single to move the Panther to third with no outs. A sacrifice fly to right put FIT back ahead 2-1. That lead was short lived once the Eagles returned to the plate. Morgan was hit by a pitch to start the bottom half of the inning, stole second, and moved to third on a strikeout when the catcher threw to first. Kelsey Kressler lined a hit into center to tie the game 2-2.

For the first inning in game two of the doubleheader, Florida Tech was unable to add to its run total in the third, but the scoring streak continued for the Blue and Gold. Sandridge's single put her in position to score on Wood's first-career triple. The Eagles then pulled a gem out of the playbook when Karina Ortiz-Munoz took off for second with two outs and stopped halfway. The Panthers threw down and eventually tagged out Ortiz-Munoz but not before Wood came home to make the score 4-2. 

The bats cooled off for the next three frames, but the seventh inning made up for any lack in drama. The first batter flew out to Macchia in left, then things got dicey. A throwing error and walk put the tying run on base. The next batter flew out to Wood in right, who threw to third in hopes of nailing a runner advancing. On the throw, the Panther on first took off for second but was at risk of getting caught in a rundown after Sandridge received the ball at second. As the runner retreated to first, Sandridge overthrew Ortiz-Munoz and the ball escaped into the visiting dugout which allowed one run to score and another Panther to go to third. After a walk, FIT used the same trick ERAU utilized when the runner on first sprinted to second to draw the throw and held up halfway to the base. The Eagles tagged out the runner but not before the Panther on third scored, tying the game at 4-4.

Embry-Riddle was in good position for a walk-off when Bianco started the bottom of the seventh with a single up the middle. A pair of sacrifice bunts moved the potential winning run over to third, and Macchia came up clutch with the game-winning RBI single into center to plate pinch-runner Leah Oberkehr. It's the second time in 2023 Macchia drove home the winning run and Oberkehr scored the winning run.

It was yet another multi-hit performance (2-for-3) for Sandridge, her 10th of the year. She collected two runs while Wood added a run and two RBIs by also going 2-for-3 at the dish.

Mallory Kinahan (10-5) received her 18th career win, moving her into sole possession of eighth on the program's all-time list. She gave up four runs, one earned, on five hits and four walks with a strikeout in the complete game. 

Also of note, Ortiz-Munoz jumped to third on the Blue and Gold's career putouts list with 450 while Sandridge improved to fifth all-time in assists (129).

The Eagles hit the road for the next six games, beginning with a series at Lynn. Game one is scheduled for Friday, March 31 at 3 p.m.
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