The Emory pitching tandem of senior Amanda Kardys and freshman Brittany File combined for a five hitter in sparking the Eagles to a NCAA Division III Championships opening-round win over Agnes Scott College. The No. 15-ranked Eagles, the host of the Atlanta Regional, raised their overall record to 37-7 following a 5-1 triumph over the Scotties who slipped to 23-21.
Kardys tied her school season record as she raised her won-lost record to 25-1 after tossing the first four innings, surrendering four hits and striking out one. File finished off the final three frames in impressive fashions, giving up just one hit and fanning six en route to her third save of the campaign.
Sophomore third baseman Hannah Sendel turned in a two-for-two effort at the plate including a solo home run in the bottom of the fifth, her 13th round tripper of the year, which closed out the game's scoring. Freshman designated player Tara Fallahee also hit safely twice and drove in a run while junior shortstop Moira Sullivan totaled a pair of RBIs on a two-run double that was a key blow in a four-run second inning.
The Scotties picked up their lone run in their half of the fourth when Ansley Monsrud scampered home from second base following a two-bagger by Alliyah Williams.
Fallahee drove in Emory's first run with her out-out double pushing junior Micah Scharff across the plate. After Sullivan's double stretched the Eagles' advantage to 3-0, senior Ally Kersthold doubled to center scoring Sullivan. Earlier in the inning senior center fielder Lauren Gorodetsky tied Cassie Walsh (2007-10) for the No. 1 spot on the program's all-time ladder with her 67th stolen base.
Emory advances in the winner's bracket and will meet No. 14 Piedmont on Saturday in a scheduled 11:00 am start. Piedmont defeated Lynchburg earlier in the day by a 6-4 count. Agnes Scott will meet Lynchburg in an elimination game scheduled for 1:30 pm.