DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Starting pitcher Shelby Morse racked up a career-high 10 strikeouts, and Lauren Latoria drove in Leah Oberkehr to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth against Lynn in a 4-3 series-opening win on Friday night. 

Morse became the first Eagle to notch double-digit strikeouts since Jayla Jackson did so back in 2020. On top of that, this is the third time Latoria drove in the game-winning run in her career, and the third time Oberkehr scored the game-winning run. The team's sixth walk-off win of the  season matched the program's single-season record.

Embry-Riddle (22-16, 5-11 Sunshine State Conference) unleashed havoc in the bottom of the first. Raissa Bianco got on with a fielding error to lead off and Delaney Morgan walked. That set up Sydney Linn for a two-RBI triple. The freshman came all the way around to score after a wild throw to third allowed her to touch home for a 3-0 lead.

Morse was dealing in the circle early on. She struck out a trio of batters in the second inning. The Napa, California product then saved a run when, with two runners in scoring position in the top of the third, she fielded a bunt and hastily tossed the ball to Katriana Bain, who applied the tag at the plate. 

The strikeout frenzy continued in the fourth and the fifth as Morse rang up a pair of Fighting Knights (11-28, 2-17 SSC) in each inning. However, Lynn did get into the scoring column in the fifth with a single and a double to plate a run. 

A dropped fly ball cut the Blue and Gold's lead to just one run in the sixth, and then the game was tied in the seventh due to a pair of defensive miscue's and an RBI groundout. 

In extras, the Fighting Knights got the leadoff batter abroad on a fielding error. However, Bain erased the miscue by throwing the runner out at second on an attempt to steal. Morse then proceeded to strike out the next two hitters to give the home team another chance to walk it off.

Oberkehr started the bottom of the eighth with a ground ball to second and narrowly beat out the throw. The speedy sophomore then stole second, and raced all the way home when Latoria laid down a sacrifice bunt to win the contest.

Linn finished 2-for-4 with a run and two RBIs. Morgan stole her 16th base of the season to move into a tie for eighth on the all-time single-season list. It was also the junior's 27th stolen base of her career, which is tied for the fifth most by any Eagle. Karina Ortiz-Munoz grabbed career double No. 24 to move up into a tie for the sixth most all-time. It was also the graduate student's 147th total base, which cracked the program's all-time top-10.

Morse (W, 9-7) picked up her 17th career win, which is tied for the ninth most all time, with a complete-game performance. She allowed three runs, though only one was earned, on six hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts. 

The win improved Embry-Riddle to 22-4 all-time against Lynn and 14-1 at home. The Eagles are on a 10-game winning streak against the Fighting Knights.

Both teams return on Saturday for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. to close out the series.