The Emory University softball team recorded another 1-1 day in Columbus, GA, closing out the NFCA Leadoff Classic with a 3-3 overall record.
On the season the Eagles now sit at 5-5 dropping their first game of the day 12-1 to Texas Lutheran before bouncing back in a big way with an 11-0 trouncing of Central (IA).
The Eagles are back in action this upcoming weekend with a doubleheader at home against the Covenant Scots on Friday, March 11th and follow that up with another doubleheader against the LaGrange Panthers on Sunday.
Game 1 - Texas Lutheran 12, Emory 1 (5 innings)
Sophomore Page Nellis had a solid first game going 1-for-2 at the plate and bringing home Emory's one score of the game. Senior Mattie Ryan was her usual reliable self on offense going 2-for-3 at the plate to bring her season batting-average to .464. Sophomore Natalie Swift served as the starting pitcher for the Eagles and with the loss her season record moved to 1-4.
Texas Lutheran's offense proved too much for Emory to handle as a grand slam from them in the bottom of the third inning put this game out of reach.
The highlight of the game for Emory came in the top of the second when Nellis knocked a ball into left field to bring graduate Natalie Costero home to tie the game up at one run apiece. The Bulldogs would go on to score 11 runs between the third and fourth innings to end the game in five innings.
Game 2 - Emory 11, Central (IA) 0 (5 innings)
Emory bounced back in the final game of the Leadoff Classic, run-ruling the Dutch 11-0 in under five full innings of work. Ryan was unstoppable in this game going 2-for-3 at the plate and recording a season-high seven RBI for the Eagles. For her efforts she earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team at the conclusion of the weekend. Senior Megan Weisenberg went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate and she crossed the plate three times herself as well as bringing one runner home.
Ryan was outstanding in the circle as well, pitching the entire game while giving up just a single hit to the Dutch. Recording an additional five strikeouts, Ryan moved her season record to a team best 4-1.
Costero got things started for the Eagles with a single to left field in the first inning that brought Weisenberg home for her first run of the day. In the second inning both Weisenberg and junior Tyler Miller drove runs home but the most noise in the inning was made when Ryan stepped up to the plate. With the bases loaded, Ryan delivered a grand slam blast over the outfield fence to put the Eagles up 7-0 and never looked back.
The Eagles put up another four runs in the third inning that was highlighted by a bases-clearing double by none other than Ryan that put the Eagles in run-rule territory. With one last chance for the Dutch in the top of the fifth, Ryan was surgical in the circle, retiring the side while striking out the final two batters she faced.