The No. 8-ranked Emory softball team opened defense of its University Athletic Association crown on Tuesday by splitting two games at the conference tournament in Altamonte Springs, Florida.  The Eagles saw their 20-game win streak come to an end when they dropped a 7-2 verdict to No. 18 Washington University in their first action of the day before bouncing back to post a 6-0 triumph over Rochester.  Emory is 21-1 on the year.

Freshman pitcher Brittany File earned her seventh win in as many decisions after hurling a complete-game whitewash of the Yellowjackets, surrendering just one hit and striking out 15, a school record for a UAA Tournament game.  Junior catcher Micah Scharff sparked the Emory offense by going 2-for-3 at the plate and socking a three-run homer in the top of the first that gave the Eagles a 4-0 cushion to work with.  Emory added its final two runs of the contest in the third on RBIs from sophomores Hannah Sendel and Alyssa Pollard. 

In the day's opener, Emory was forced to play catch-up early on as Wash U pushed across four unearned runs in the top of the first frame.  The Bears padded their lead with a pair of runs in the fourth before tacking up another in the fifth.  The Eagles registered all of their scoring in their half of the fifth when a two-out double by senior left fielder Ally Kersthold scored Scharff and Pollard.  Senior pitcher Amanda Kardys took the loss, her first setback against 13 wins.

Emory resumes UAA Tournament action on Wednesday when it plays Brandeis at 12:30 pm.