The Emory University softball team dropped the first game of its weekend series to Carnegie Mellon at Cooper Field Friday afternoon.

In what was a low-scoring affair for much of the afternoon the Tartans prevailed over the Eagles by a score of 4-1. The Eagles record moves to 10-7 and 0-1 in UAA play while the Tartans moved up to 10-6 and now sit at 1-0 in conference play. It is the first conference game for either program since the 2019 program.

The Eagles were stifled offensively and were unable to string any hits together until a late push in the final frame that ultimately came up short. Graduate student Natalie Costero was a bright spot for Emory, going 2-for-3 at the plate and had the team's lone RBI. Senior Mattie Ryan showed off her power early in the game leading off with a double into right field that was her lone hit of the day. Sophomore Natalie Swift drew the start in the circle and with the loss her record moved to 2-5 on the season.

The Tartans got off to a quick start putting their first run on the board in the top of the first inning. Stellar pitching by Swift kept the Tartans without another run until the fifth inning as Carnegie Mellon left five runners on base between the second and fourth innings. After a bang-bang play at the plate and a rule book consultation the Tartans were able to put two plate two more runs in the fifth inning. A spirited comeback attempt by the Eagles in the seventh saw them put their first and only run of the game on the board on a single up the middle by Costero that scored senior Megan Weisenberg but it proved too little too late as the Eagles fell 4-1.

The Eagles look to avenge Friday's loss when they return to action tomorrow at 12:00 for the second and third games of their series against the Tartans.