The Emory University Softball team earned its first two victories of the season Friday afternoon, sweeping a doubleheader against crosstown foe Agnes Scott College.
Senior Mattie Ryan had a strong day for the Eagles as she went 5-for-6 combined with four runs and an RBI. Ryan also earned the win as she pitched in both games, starting and finishing the first contest and coming in as a relief pitcher in game two. Between the two games, Ryan had an ERA of 2.10 and she struck out five batters. Elsewhere, sophomore Page Nellis batted 4-for-7 and contributed three runs and two RBI on the day. Freshman Kayla Lang had her best collegiate showing posting a two run, four RBI stat line over these two games.
In game one of the double dip the Eagles got out to a quick start scoring three times in the first inning, highlighted by an RBI triple to right field from senior Megan Weisenberg. The Scotties scored their first two runs in the top of the second on a two-RBI single off Ryan. One more runner would cross the plate for Emory in the third but it was the fourth inning where the Eagles would really do their damage. Agnes Scott had no answers for the Eagles in the inning with Emory scoring six runs on five consecutive at-bats. Emory took care of business in the top of the fifth to run rule the Scotties by a score of 10-2.
The second game of the doubleheader was much tighter between the two teams. After both teams were held scoreless across the first two innings, the Scotties got the scoring started in the top of the third with four hits and three runs off of Eagles starting pitcher Natalie Swift. The Scotties would score another three runs over the next two innings to make the score 6-0 in their favor heading into the bottom of the fifth.
The comeback train for the Eagles started with an RBI single from sophomore Abby Sekoff that would end up turning into an inside the park home run thanks to an error from the Scotties right fielder. Another run from the Scotties in the top of the sixth gave them a 7-2 lead in the sixth, but the Eagles comeback was just getting started.
The first four batters for the Eagles in the sixth all reached base with a double from Lang scoring the first run of the inning for Emory. After scoring three more runs to bring the Eagles within one and the bases loaded, Nellis stepped up to the plate and had the biggest moment of the season thus far, smashing a double into the outfield to score all three runners and give the Eagles their first lead of the game. In the top of the seventh Ryan was surgical in the circle, giving up just one hit and promptly closing out the Scotties to seal the come from behind 9-7 victory.
The Eagles return to the field this Wednesday, February 23rd for a doubleheader in Rome, GA against the Berry College Vikings starting at 3:00 PM.