The Emory University softball team opened its 2024 season with a doubleheader against the Cal Lutheran Regals finishing each game in walkoff fashion.
The Eagles start the season with a 2-0 record under new head coach India Chiles and saw an exciting Monday of action in the new season.
Game 1: Emory 5, Cal Lutheran 4 (8 inn.)
Freshman Lexi Bach got a great start to her rookie season allowing just one hit in her first inning of work before sophomore Ella Hoyle followed offensively in the bottom of the first with a single up the middle to score sophomore Ashley Chu, who reached on a walk earlier in the inning.
The second and third innings were up and down for both teams with Bach recording two strikeouts and allowing just two hits. The Regals were able to get their leadoff runner on in the top of the fourth innings before a single and a sacrifice fly brought in two runs for the Regals followed by another RBI single giving Cal Lutheran a 3-1 lead after the top of the fourth.
The bottom of the fourth was an inning for the freshman with Sonia Klein starting the rally with a one out double to right field. Fellow freshman Ellie Zerr drove a single through the left side to score Klein cutting the Regals' lead to one run.
Sophomore Mackenzie Duford came in to pitch for Bach and posted a scoreless fifth inning allowing just one hit to the Regals. The Eagles were able to load the bases in the bottom of the inning but were unable to capitalize on the moment and finished the inning down 3-2.
Cal Lutheran started with two runners on base in the top of the sixth inning and after a passed ball, the Regals were able to score on a sacrifice fly to left field taking a 4-2 lead. The Eagles answered with another run in the bottom of the sixth inning with senior Natalie Swift posting a sacrifice fly to left field to score freshman Lillian Ware bringing the game within one run.
After a solid outing from Duford in the seventh inning, the Eagles looked towards the bottom of the seventh for a comeback attempt. Chu started the inning with a bunt single before stealing second and third followed by a single from freshman Grace Cooper to tie the game at four.
After the Regals left the bases loaded in the top of the eighth, Emory was able to load the bases before a walk to freshman Abby Wylie scored the winning run for the Eagles.
Game 2: Emory 8, Cal Lutheran (5 inn.)
Sophomore Isabel Cohen got her first start of the season on the mound not allowing a single run and striking out three batters. The first inning was scoreless for both teams before the Eagles broke loose in the bottom of the second. Ware started the inning with a single up the middle followed by a fielder's choice from Klein. After a single from senior Abby Sekoff and a walk to load the bases, senior Page Nellis brought in two runners with a single giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the third, Cooper led off the inning with a walk before a long home run to left field from Zerr brought in two more runs for the Eagles bringing the score to 4-0.
Freshman Georgia Pineda made her pitching debut during the second game getting out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the fourth inning. The Eagles exploded in the fourth inning with Chu starting with a single followed by a double from Nellis for her third RBI of the day. Cooper brought in another run on a sacrifice fly to right field before a single from Ware brought in Emory's third run of the inning giving them a 7-0 lead.
Nellis saw her second hit by pitch of the day in the bottom of the fifth inning, her 30th career, needing just one to tie the Emory program record. After loading the bases, the Eagles were able to score their eighth run on a walk to Cooper ending the game at 8-0.
The Eagles will travel to Maryville, Tennessee on Saturday, February 24 for a tournament with Wittenberg and Maryville (TN). The first game against Wittenberg will begin at 1:00 PM followed by the second game against Maryville at 3:30 PM.