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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Morgan_031123_IMG_6902
Maggie Allen
7
Winner Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 19-14
1
Lynn LYNN 17-19
Winner
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB
19-14
7
Final
1
Lynn LYNN
17-19
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 0 2 0 1 0 1 3 7 10 1
Lynn LYNN 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 2 1

W: Kinahan, Mallory (11-5) L: H. Fardanesh (6-12)

Game Recap: Softball | | Kyrin Mayfield | @k_mayfield97

Morgan Goes Yard in Softball’s Series-Opening 7-1 Win Over Lynn

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Powerful hitting, smart baserunning, and sound defensive play helped the Embry-Riddle softball team overwhelm Lynn 7-1 in the first game of a three-game series on Friday. 

The Eagles (19-14, 6-7 Sunshine State Conference) limited the Fighting Knights (17-19, 7-9 SSC) to two hits, which tied for the fewest allowed by the Blue and Gold this season. On offense, Delaney Morgan recorded her first-career home run, and the first by the team in the last 21 games. The sophomore was part of a nearly unstoppable back-half of the order that combined to go 9-for-14 with five runs and four RBIs.

After a hitless first inning, the Eagles strung together four consecutive hits to take a 2-0 lead in the second. Morgan started the surge with a single and moved to second on an error by the catcher. Raissa Bianco then laid a bunt down the left side and beat out the throw to first. Morgan raced home while the ball headed toward the first baseman and was able to score with ease. Kelsey Kressler kept the inning going with a base knock of her own, and Bianco then scored on a hit by Mallory Kinahan.

Lynn fought back in the third, scoring a run after the leadoff batter singled, stole second, advanced to third on an error, and scored on a wild pitch. Later in the inning, a one-out sacrifice bunt moved the potential tying run to third, but third baseman Kressler took matters into her own hands when she ran down the line to field a bunt, tagged the runner trying to score, and threw to first for a 5-4 inning-ending double play. 

On just the second pitch in the fourth inning, Morgan went yard to left for her first-career home run and the team's fifth of 2023. 

Embry-Riddle added an insurance run in the sixth as Kressler and Kinahan once again produced back-to-back base hits to start the frame. A groundout pushed the two Eagles over 60 feet, and Kressler was able to touch home on a wild pitch soon after. 

The Blue and Gold found additional breathing room in the seventh partly due to a pair of wild pitches. The first four Eagles reached base, including Morgan who stayed perfect at the dish with an RBI single to push pinch runner Leah Oberkehr home. With one out and the bases loaded, a pair of pitches sailed over the Fighting Knights' catcher and easily allowed Karina Ortiz-Munoz and Morgan to score, making it a 7-1 game.

While the ERAU offense found success, the team was playing sound defense as well. Starting pitcher Kinahan and her eight other teammates in the field retired the final 14 batters faced in order. 

Almost all of Embry-Riddle's success came from the six-through-nine slots in the order, which was Morgan, Bianco, Kressler and Kinahan. Combined, those four batters went 9-for-14 with five runs and four RBIs. It was the second time in Morgan's career she recorded three hits. She also scored a career-best three times and brought in two runners. Bianco was 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. Her double in the fourth was the first extra-base hit of her season. Both Kressler and Kinahan went 2-for-4 at the plate. Kressler added a run while Kinahan picked up an RBI in her first-ever multi-hit performance. 

As a team, Embry-Riddle stole six bases, tied for the fourth most in a game in program history and the most since Feb. 1, 2020. Additionally, the seven walks received by Blue and Gold batters were tied for the ninth most on the program's all-time list and the most since Feb. 16, 2019.

In the circle, Kinahan (11-5) held Lynn to one run on two hits with three walks and five strikeouts. 

With the victory, Embry-Riddle improves to 19-4 all-time against the Fighting Knights and are currently riding a seven-game winning streak. 

The Eagles will look to claim their second-straight SSC series with a noon doubleheader on Saturday.
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