The Emory University softball team dropped the series opener against the WashU Bears 3-2 on Friday afternoon in their sixth extra inning game of the season.

The Eagles drop to 15-16 on the season, 5-7 in the UAA while the Bears improve to 14-15 on the year, 6-7 in UAA action.

Emory was able to jump to an early start by loading the bases in the bottom of the first. Senior Tyler Miller brought home junior Page Nellis with a sacrifice fly.

Freshman Mackenzie Duford was stellar on the mound for Emory not allowing an earned run through six innings and giving up just six hits over nine innings of work.

The Bears tied the game in the top of the third inning on a double to right field, but Duford was able to get out of the jam to keep WashU from scoring again in the inning.

Freshman Ashley Chu started the bottom of the sixth with an infield single and was able to advance to second on a groundout from junior Natalie Swift. Miller once again showed her RBI strength this season with a huge double to center field to score Chu and give the Eagles a 2-0 lead.

The Bears jumped on a rally in the top of the seventh with a single to right field to tie the game and scored the winning run in the top of the ninth with another single to right.   

The Eagles will face the Bears in games two and three of the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 15 at 1 pm.