The Emory University softball team dominated the NYU Violets taking both games of its doubleheader on Friday afternoon at Cooper Field.
The Eagles improve to 21-13 on the season and move to 7-7 in conference play this season. Freshman Ellie Zerr continues to make history with her six RBI and her 10th home run on the season. She now ranks seventh in most home runs in a single season and fifth with most RBI in a single season with 58.
Game 1: Emory 9, NYU 6
After a quick top of the first inning, sophomore Ashley Chu opened the bottom of the inning with a walk followed by a double from freshman Grace Cooper, but the Eagles weren't able to capitalize on the momentum and finished the inning scoreless. A one-out walk opened the top of the second for the Violets before a walk and a single scored the first run of the day for NYU.
The Eagles answered in the bottom of the second with another walk and a single to start the inning. Freshman Lillian Ware brought in Emory's first run of the day with a single up the middle to tie the game, 1-1. Chu and Cooper followed with a fielder's choice and an error from NYU's defense to load the bases, but the Violets were able to get out of the jam.
The third inning was scoreless on both sides until a single from NYU in the top of the fourth gave the Violets a slight 2-1 lead after three and a half innings. The Eagles were able to get two runners on to start the bottom half of the fourth followed by a two-RBI double from senior Page Nellis gave Emory a 3-2 lead. Zerr notched her first RBI of the day with a single to right-center field to score Nellis giving Emory a 4-2 lead.
NYU tacked on another run in the top of the fifth inning with an RBI double, but freshman Abby Wylie entered the game in the bottom of the fifth posting her fifth RBI of the season with a single up the middle to score fellow freshman Sonia Klein who reached on a walk earlier in the inning.
The back-and-forth scoring continued into the top of the sixth with the Violets taking advantage of another RBI double to cut Emory's lead to 5-4. Emory was able to answer in the bottom half of the inning with Chu and Cooper getting on base to start the inning. Nellis notched an infield single to score Chu before a bases clearing double from Zerr gave the Eagles an 8-4 lead. Sophomore Ella Hoyle ended the scoring run with a single to right field to score Zerr.
Despite the Violets scoring a run in the top of the seventh, the Eagles were able to secure the 9-6 win after a long sixth inning rally to take game one of the doubleheader.
Game 2: Emory 15, NYU 8
The Violets were looking for revenge to start the second game scoring four runs on three hits, but stranded three runners to end the inning. Emory followed with revenge of their own scoring nine runs in the bottom of the first while also taking advantage of three errors from the Violets' defense. Nellis highlighted the inning making two appearances and posting three RBI in the inning. Hoyle and Chu also notched RBI of their own in the nine run inning helping the Eagles to a 9-4 lead after the first inning.
The second inning was quick for both teams with only one hit coming between the two squads. The Violets scored two more runs in the top of the third inning starting the inning with a double and a single followed by the two-RBI double down the right field line.
Once again, the scoring continued for Emory in the bottom half of the inning with senior Natalie Swift starting things off with a single followed by a walk from Chu. Cooper and Nellis brought in two runs for the Eagles followed by an RBI double and single from Zerr and Hoyle to help the Eagles to a 13-6 lead after three innings.
NYU scored two more runs in the top of the fourth inning on back-to-back singles bringing the score to a 13-8 Emory lead. Zerr ended the day with a two-run home run to center field to score the Eagles' 15th run of the day.
The series will conclude on Saturday, April 20 with another doubleheader starting at 12:00 PM and the Eagles will celebrate senior day following the conclusion of game two.