The Emory University softball team's offense was in high gear as it pounded out 22 hits while scoring 18 runs in notching a pair of season-opening wins on Friday.  In their first contest of 2014, the Eagles topped Averett University, 10-2 in five innings before earning an 8-4 triumph over Maryville College.

Emory faced a 2-1 deficit in the Averett contest before exploding for a six-run fourth inning, rapping out four doubles in the uprising.  A single by sophomore right fielder Alyssa Pollard got things rolling, scoring senior Claire Bailey who opened the frame with a two-bagger.  Sophomore Melody Carter doubled in Bailey and then scored herself courtesy of a double by senior left fielder Ally Kersthold.   Senior first baseman Megan Light would double in the last run in the inning, scoring sophomore Moira Sullivan.   The Eagles tacked on three more runs the following inning, and made a winner out of freshman Brittany File who tossed 2 ½ innings of scoreless relief, striking out four batters. Pollard, Light, Cartter and Kersthold all had two hits in the game.

Kersthold provided the offensive fireworks in the Maryville game, posting three hits in four trips to the plate and scoring twice.  Light knocked in a pair of runs, the first coming on a sacrifice fly in the opening inning and the other coming on a one-out double in the third that scored Kersthold who opened the inning with a two-base hit. The Eagles added to a 6-3 advantage with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth when Sullivan delivered a two-run single that enabled Bailey and Pollard to score.  Senior Amanda Kardys earned the win in the circle, hurling six innings of relief, surrendering five hits and fanning five.

Emory returns to action on Saturday (Feb. 8) when it hosts Averett at 10:00 and Maryville at 2:00 pm.