Embry-Riddle sweeps BU in season opener, 8-7, 4-2

Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- The Bellevue University softball team suffered a doubleheader sweep Friday in the season-opening games for the Bruins, falling 8-7 and 4-2 at Embry-Riddle Softball Stadium. It was the first-ever home games for the Eagles as Embry-Riddle is in its first season of competition in softball. 

The Eagles (4-6) rallied with four runs in the bottom of the seventh, to pull out the win in the opener. Savannah Smith drove in three runs to lead ERAU in the nightcap. 

The Bruins continue action in Florida on Saturday (March 2) when they open play at the National Training Center Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. Bellevue will battle Michigan-Dearborn at 1 p.m. and Davenport at 5 p.m.

Game 1: Embry-Riddle 8, Bellevue 7

The Eagles scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning two pull out an 8-7 come-from-behind victory in the opener. 

Kelsie Bridgeford and Amanda Neumann both went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and Kim Wees finished 2-for-2 with three runs scored and one RBI to pace the Bruin offense. 

The Bruins opened up a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Wees' sacrifice bunt scored Alyssa Matoba. ERAU tied the game on an RBI double by Jessica Osteen in the bottom of the second and took the lead after scoring on a passed ball. 

Neumann's two-run double scored Wees and Matoba to help BU regain the lead at 3-2 in the top of the third frame. The Bruins extended the lead to 4-2 on an RBI single by Kristin Burhenne in the fourth inning. 

Bellevue led 6-2 in the top of the fifth after an RBI triple by Bridgeford and a one-run single by Shelby Kindelin.

A two-run homer by Dee Espinosa moved the Eagles to within two runs at 6-4 in the bottom of the sixth.

Bridgeford responded with an RBI double in the top of the seventh as BU took a 7-4 advantage before the Eagles rallied in the bottom of the seventh with four runs highlighted by a two-run homer by Smith and an RBI double by Robi Zimmerman. Melanie Lee came off the bench to pinch hit for Jori Walan and hit an 0-2 pitch towards Wees, who misplayed the ball, allowing Rae Heuer to score the game-winning run.

Game 2: Embry-Riddle 4, Bellevue 2

The Eagles scored a run in the second on a sacrifice fly by Jessica Osteen and another in the third on an RBI double by Smith to take a 2-0 lead. 

After Bridgeford doubled to advance Neumann to third, Katie Malloy drove in Neumann on a sacrfice fly to center field to cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the fourth.

A bases-loaded single by Smith drove in two Eagle runs in the bottom of the fifth to extend the ERAU lead to 4-1. 

The Bruins got one run back in the top of the seventh, scoring on a throwing error to make the final, 4-2. 

Taylor Mohler (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering six hits and four runs, while striking out two Eagle batters. Alexis Estrada earned her second win of the day, tossing a five-hitter with nine strikeouts.