DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - In the first ever meeting between the two programs, the Embry-Riddle softball team took a pair of games from Bridgeport on Wednesday night at Radiology Associates Field. The Eagles came from behind in game one, using a walk-off triple from Emma Wood to down the Purple Knights 3-2. Then in game two, a dominant performance inside the circle from Ava Domenici coupled with an all-around impressive offensive outburst allowed the Blue and Gold to dominate game two 10-2.


GAME 1 | Embry-Riddle - 3, Bridgeport - 2

Bridgeport constantly threatened in the first game by putting a runner in scoring position in each of the first six innings. A leadoff single followed by a sacrifice bunt and a fielding error had a runner on third with one out for the Purple Knights. A sac fly gave the visitors a 1-0 lead which shortly after increased to 2-0 on an RBI single. 

Kerry O'Sullivan gave the home team its first scoring opportunity with her first career triple in the bottom of the third with no outs. However, the Eagles came away empty handed. 

Then in the bottom of the fourth, a reversed call gave ERAU its first run of the game. Sydney Linn was scraped by a pitch with one out. Then Addison Orr attempted to move her into scoring position with a sac bunt. Linn was aggressive on the basepaths, trying to reach third base on the bunt but was originally ruled out at third on the tag as the third out. The Eagle defense took to the field, but a late discussion eventually overturned the call, and Embry-Riddle stepped back up to bat. Moments later, Vanessa Gilbert brought Linn in to score on a single to second, cutting the deficit to 2-1. 

The Blue and Gold evened the score two innings later. Delaney Morgan began the frame with a high-hopping single to the left side and advanced to third on a misplay by the third baseman on a ball put in play by Karina Ortiz-Munoz. The grad student proceeded to steal second to put two runners in scoring position with no outs. Then Lauren Latoria came up clutch with a pinch hit bunt single that allowed Morgan to race home from third and tie the game. 

ERAU's defense took care of Bridgeport in the top of the seventh, setting up for a walk-off win in the bottom of the inning. O'Sullivan started with a single up the middle, and Wood fired a shot into left that bounced inches beyond the reach of the left fielder and rolled to the fence. O'Sullivan scored with ease to give ERAU its second walk-off win of the season. It was the 30th walk-off in program history, the first time it occurred on a triple, and the second time O'Sullivan was the winning run.

Gilbert recorded her first multi-hit performance of her young career, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. O'Sullivan also registered two hits in three at-bats with a run scored. 

Mallory Kinahan pitched well as the starter, lasting for 5.2 innings and allowing two runs, none of which were earned, on five hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Wood (W, 3-0) earned the victory with her 1.1 innings of effective pitching. 

In the field, Ortiz-Munoz picked up 13 putouts, the most by an Eagle in a game this season.


GAME 2 | Embry-Riddle - 10, Bridgeport - 2

Game two initially gave the appearance of a contest that closely resembled the first game of the doubleheader, but it was anything but as Embry-Riddle slugged its way to victory. Bridgeport struck first in the opening inning once again with a pair of singles and a two-RBI double to send the Eagles behind 2-0. However, starter Domenici locked in from that point on and prevented the Purple Knights from recording a hit for the rest of her stint, which lasted until the end of the fifth inning.

This gave the home team plenty of time to respond, though the Eagles only needed the next half inning. Raissa Bianco began the bottom of the first with a single to the shortstop, and Wood followed with a base knock to an open hole on the right side. Still with no outs, Morgan slapped a triple to right field to plate both runners and erase the deficit. It was already her fourth three-bagger of the season, which is tied for the fifth-most in a single year by an Eagle. 

Mia Macchia then gave ERAU the lead for good with a single up the middle to make it 3-2. A dormant second inning followed as both sides were retired in order, but an explosive bottom of the third allowed the Eagles to pad their lead. Morgan quickly found herself on second with a leadoff single and stolen base. Ortiz-Munoz then stepped in and sent a laser to the third baseman that was too strong to handle, and the ball escaped into left field. She then caught the defense sleeping and sprinted to second while the Purple Knights were gingerly walking the ball back to the infield. 

A groundout by Macchia plated one run, setting up Linn for an RBI single that turned into a race around the bases. The groundball escaped underneath the outfielder's glove and rolled to the ball, letting Linn race home for the Eagles' sixth run of the game. 

Domenici continued to overwhelm the Bridgeport offense, striking out a pair of batters in the top of the fourth. 

A four-run sixth inning for ERAU triggered the mercy rule. Macchia got her first extra base hit of the season, a double to left, and Linn followed suit with her first career extra base hit with an RBI triple to left center. Shelby Morse then used a sac fly to bring Linn in to score to clear the bases. With two outs, the Eagles were determined to end the game early. Bianco singled through the left side and Wood doubled to make the score 9-2. The Eagles put some speed on second base as Leah Oberkehr came in to pinch run as the potential winning run. Morgan sent a ball to right for a hit, and Oberkehr scored to end the game. 

Five different Eagles accumulated multiple hits, led by Morgan's 3-for-4 outburst with two runs and three RBIs. Bianco scored twice on a 2-for-4 night, Wood increased her on-base streak to seven games with a pair of hits in four at-bats with a run and an RBI, and Macchia produced two RBIs with a run after going 2-for-3. Linn also had a breakout night with her first career multi-hit game (2-for-3) with two runs and two RBIs.  

The four triples on the night gave Embry-Riddle 12 on the season, which is the most in the SSC by five and tied for the third most in a single season in the history of the program. 

Domenici (W, 2-2) earned the win after five innings of work. She gave up only two runs on three hits and no walks with five strikeouts. Morse relieved the sophomore in the sixth inning and pitched a scoreless frame.  

The homestand continues on Saturday with a pair of non-conference games against No. 11 Wilmington at 3 p.m. and Saginaw Valley State at 5 p.m.