Berry 6, Emory 5 (8 innings)
Berry 6, Emory 4 (9 innings)
The Emory softball team fell victim to the long ball Saturday
afternoon as it dropped both games of a doubleheader to Berry
College. The Eagles saw their record slip to 19-11 following
an eight-inning 6-5 setback and a nine-inning 6-4 loss to the
Vikings who improved to 17-15.
Emory rapped out 12 hits in the opening contest, including a
3-for-3 performance by freshman first baseman Ellyn
Kocoloski. However, the Eagles let several scoring
opportunities slip through their grasp and stranded a total of 11
runners on base. Emory held a 1-0 lead until the bottom of
the fourth when it exploded for four runs. Senior Cassie
Walsh, freshman Meaghan Schultz and Kocoloski all delivered
run-producing singles, while a bases-loaded walk to sophomore
Jessica Thomas forced in what proved to be the team's final
run of the contest. Berry tied the game in the top half of
the seventh when freshman first baseman Kristin Stoll socked a
two-out, two-strike grand slam. After the Eagles were retired
in its half of the seventh, the teams advanced to extra innings,
using the tie-breaking system of starting a new inning with a
runner on second base. After advancing to third on a
sacrifice bunt, Berry's Betsy Lawson scored on an Emory error
which proved to be the deciding tally. The Eagles advanced
their runner to third base with one out, but were not able to get
her home. Walsh added two hits as did sophomore Jen Haag.
The Vikings jumped on Emory early in the second contest, pushing
across four runs in the top of the first. Highlighting the
frame for the visitors was a bases-loaded, three-run double by
freshman Jesse King. King would later provide more heroics
for the Vikings. The Eagles chipped away at the deficit,
scoring once in the first and twice in third to cut the gap to
4-3. Emory tied the game in the seventh when Schultz came
through with a clutch two-out single that scored Caitlin Fitzgerald
who opened the frame with a double and then moved to third on a
sacrifice bunt by Walsh. After a scoreless eighth inning,
King put Berry ahead when she belted a two-run homer to right
field. The Eagles were not able to score in their half of the
ninth and were saddled with the loss despite outhitting Berry by a
9-8 margin.
Emory returns to action on Sunday (Apr. 11) when it plays a
doubleheader at Reinhardt College.
