The Emory University softball team put on a dominant offensive showing to go 2-0 in its series opener doubleheader on Friday against NYU at Cooper Field.
The Eagles used a strong start at the plate in the first game to win 7-4 and carried that momentum into the second game to win 9-6, sweeping a doubleheader for the first time since March 19th. Emory's record moves to 17-15 and 6-8 in UAA play with six games remaining in the regular season.
The Eagles will play the third game of their series against the Violets on Saturday at 2:00 PM, barring any weather delays, at Cooper Field. Prior to the start of the game, the Eagles plan to honor several alumni members in attendance.
Game 1 - Emory 7, NYU 4
The Eagles scored all seven of their runs in the second inning before cruising to the finish line. Graduate student Allie Moberg had the highlight of the game with a three-run homer that encapsulated the Eagles seven-run outburst.
Sophomore Page Nellis had a rock-solid day as the leadoff hitter for Emory, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a run and an RBI. Sophomore Rachel Cocolis poured in another extra-base hit, her fourth in the month of April, in her 2-for-3 day that included a run and an RBI. Senior Mattie Ryan pitched the complete game giving up six hits and four runs to move her record to 13-6 on the season.
Both teams went scoreless in the first but it didn't take long for the fireworks to get started as both teams' offenses got going in the second. The Violets were first on the board, plating one run on a single up the middle but that was quickly undone by the Eagles' half of the inning.
Cocolis got the frame started with a double into left field as the first five batters of the inning reached base safely. Sophomore Natalie Swift brought home Cocolis and two batters later Moberg hit a moon shot over the left field fence. After going through the entire lineup, Cocolis came back up to bat to bring in the final run of the inning with an infield single.
The Violets would cut the Eagles lead to three after scoring three runs between the third and fourth innings. Emory calmed down to close the game, allowing just one runner to reach base over the finale three innings to close out NYU in the opener.
Game 2 - Emory 9, NYU 6
The Eagles started and finished this game with an impressive offensive performance as they were able to withstand a cold stretch in the middle of the contest.
The Emory offense racked up nine hits in this game, all singles, to conclude the Friday sweep. Senior Megan Weisenberg had a strong 2-for-3 effort at the plate with two runs and an RBI including scoring the game tying run in the fifth inning. Graduate student Natalie Costero had a 2-for-4 day with two RBI as she was responsible for the initial lead for the Eagles. Swift drew the start in the circle for Emory and earned her fourth win of the season, giving up four earned runs while striking out five batters in the complete game effort.
The Eagles carried the momentum from the first game into this one, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first highlighted by a two-run single by Costero that scored both Weisenberg and Ryan. NYU gained some steamed in the middle portion, moving in front by three at 6-3.
However, the Eagles' resilience shined through as another massive offensive outburst in the form of a five-run fifth put them back in the lead. The highlight of the inning was a line drive hit up the middle by junior Tyler Miller scored both Ryan and Weisenberg again to put the Eagles back in the lead 7-6. The Eagles would keep the Violets off the scoreboard while taccking on two addition runs to earn the 2-0 series advantage.