Another postseason victory, another by way of the comeback as the Emory University softball team used five unanswered runs to erase a late-inning deficit to defeat Randolph-Macon College, 7-5, in the first game of the College World Series Thursday night in Tyler, Texas.
With the victory, the Eagles (37-12) advance to the winner's bracket and will square off against Trine University Friday evening at 5:30 PM EST. The Thunder toppled Illinois Wesleyan, 1-0, in their first contest of the CWS earlier Thursday afternoon.
Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the sixth, the Eagles sparked a rally without a ball leaving the infield. After senior Sam Vincent reached first on a muffed throw at first, Emory loaded the bases with back-to-base bunt base hits by freshman Krista Colussi and senior Jenna Wilson with no outs in the frame. Junior Sarah Katz delivered the clutch two-run single with a bloop hit to right to score the go-ahead runs. Senior Cassie Baca followed as she tacked on an insurance run with a sac fly to center to plate Vincent to push Emory's lead to 7-5.
Sophomore Madison Schaefer was outstanding in relief of starter Toko Miller, firing five innings of one-run ball as she improved to 19-4 on the year. Schafer capped off her outing by working around a one-out single in the seventh to seal the victory.
Wilson, Katz and junior Sami Feller combined for nine of the team's 14 hits in the win with Baca driving in a game-high three runs and scoring three times.
The Yellow Jackets struck for four in the opening inning with three coming across before the first out was recorded. Emory responded in the home half of the frame with a two-run home run by Baca.
RMC added a run in the third to move in front 5-2 but junior Greta Wilker answered with a RBI single in the bottom of the inning. In the fifth, Feller brought home Baca with a single to center to make it 5-4 before Emory rallied for three in the sixth.
For more information regarding the 2019 College World Series, please refer to the tournament central found here: https://uttylerpatriots.com/sports/2019/5/6/ncaa-division-iii-softball-national-championship.aspx?id=156.