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Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Athletics

Seniors_050424_DSC9273
Shamar Rush
4
Eckerd ECKERD 13-32, 7-23 SSC
5
Winner Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 33-19, 16-14 SSC
Eckerd ECKERD
13-32, 7-23 SSC
4
Final
5
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB
33-19, 16-14 SSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Eckerd ECKERD 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 4 5 1
Embry-Riddle (Fla.) ERAUSB 4 0 0 1 0 0 X 5 8 2

W: Wood, Emma (6-0) L: B. Benefield (2-5) S: Domenici, Ava (3)

Game Recap: Softball | | Kyrin Mayfield | @k_mayfield97

Softball Celebrates Senior Day with Series Sweep of Eckerd

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Embry-Riddle softball team fought off a late push by Eckerd to secure a series sweep with a 5-4 win on Saturday at Radiology Associates Field. The Eagles finish the 2024 season on a four-game win streak and a 33-19 overall record, which is tied for the second-most wins in a season in program history, and a 16-14 mark in Sunshine State Conference play. Seniors Lauren Latoria, Karina Ortiz-Munoz, and Mia Macchia were honored prior to the start of the game.

Embry-Riddle improved to 21-3 all-time against the Tritons (13-32, 7-23 SSC) and 12-0 at home. 

The top of the order did most of the heavy lifting as Raissa Bianco and Macchia combined to go 5-for-7 with two runs, an RBI, and two stolen bases. 

Embry-Riddle's offense exploded for four runs in the first inning. Bianco and Macchia began the inning with back-to-back singles while Delaney Morgan earned a walk to load the bases. This allowed Shelby Morse to drive in the first run with a ground ball to second. Emma Wood then singled to center to plate Macchia, and Latoria pushed two more Eagles home when she ripped a ball to third that a Triton misplayed. 

Starting pitcher Morse and the Eagle defense were in top form early on as they retired the first six batters in order. 

Eckerd struck back in the third with two singles and a walk to juice the bases. A sacrifice fly got the goose egg off the scoreboard, but ERAU held tight to prevent any additional runs from scoring. That was partly due to a leaping grab by first baseman Ortiz-Munoz with the bases loaded to end the inning. 

Wood took over inside the circle that inning, and she retired her first six batters in a row.

Bianco gave the Eagles their four-run lead back in the fourth when the junior's groundout allowed pinch runner Leah Oberkehr to touch home. 

A leadoff triple by Eckerd got the sixth inning going, but right fielder Parker Ray caught a fly out and threw a dart to home for a run-saving double play. 

Macchia and Ortiz-Munoz departed to standing ovations in the top of the seventh. At the same time, Latoria took to the circle for the first time in her collegiate career. Two batters later, Ava Domenici was handed the ball. A throwing error and a two-RBI double made it a one-run contest with the tying run on second and only one out. However, A groundout to Ashton Aycock at third and a flyout to Addison Orr in left preserved the win. 

Macchia recorded her second 3-for-3 game of the season and scored a run. Bianco went 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. 

Morse got the start inside the circle and lasted 2.2 innings. She allowed just one run on two hits with a strikeout. Wood (W, 6-0) improved her career record to a perfect 10-0 with 3.2 shutout innings. She also rang up a Triton. Domenici (S, 3) earned the save by recording the final two outs.

With that, the 2024 season comes to a close. Multiple program records were set throughout the course of the season. The Eagles recorded the most triples in a single season (19). Ortiz-Munoz ended her career with the all-time putouts record (895) and was just two putouts away from tying the single-season record. O'Sullivan started all 52 games this year, another program record. 

Below are top-10 marks set by Eagles this season:

Katriana Bain
Walks - 19 (T-6th)

Raissa Bianco
Fielded double plays - 13 (3rd)
Games Played - 50 (T-4th)
Stolen Bases - 21 (T-6th)
Runs - 35 (T-10th)
Hits - 50 (T-10th)

Ava Domenici
Saves - 3 (3rd)

Mallory Kinahan
Shutouts - 3 (T-9th)

Kelsey Kressler
Assists - 98 (3rd)

Lauren Latoria 
Triples - 3 (T-9th)
Games Played - 48 (T-10th)

Sydney Linn
Triples - 3 (T-10th)

Delaney Morgan
Games Played - 52 (T-1st)
Walks - 25 (T-1st)
Games Started - 50 (T-2nd)
Triples - 5 (T-2nd)
Stolen Bases - 24 (T-4th)
On-Base Percentage - .472 (6th)
Runs - 37 (T-6th)

Shelby Morse
Wins - 17 (4th)
ERA - 1.54 (5th)
Appearances - 29 (T-5th)
Starts - 26 (6th)
Innings Pitched - 155.0 (6th)

Karina Ortiz-Munoz
Fielded double plays - 17 (1st)
Games Played - 52 (T-1st)
Putouts - 334 (2nd)
Games Started - 50 (T-2nd)
Triples - 5th (T-2nd)
Doubles - 11 (T-10th)
RBIs - 56 (T-10th)

Kerry O'Sullivan
Games Played - 52 (T-1st)
Games Started - 52 (1st)
Assists - 104 (2nd)
Fielded double plays - 11 (T-5th)

Emma Wood
Saves - 4 (T-1st)
Games Played - 49 (T-6th)
Opponent Average - .227 (T-9th)
Doubles - 11 (T-10th)

At the end of her five-year career, Latoria ranked inside the top-10 in multiple career categories including games played (152 - 5th), games started (130 - 7th), triples (5 - 8th), and RBIs (59 - T-7th). 

Ortiz-Munoz was a staple at first base, playing in 145 of the Eagles' 148 games in her three seasons with the program. That ranks seventh on the all-time list. The San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico product also finished inside the top-10 in starts (141 - 6th), doubles (28 - 5th), triples (8 - T-3rd), home runs (7 - T-5th), and total bases (163 - 7th) along with her putouts program record. 

Macchia concludes her three-year stint with a career batting average of .307 over 108 games and 95 starts in the outfield. She also scored 42 runs, drove in 28 Eagles, and stole 20 bases.
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