The ninth-ranked Emory University Softball team split its doubleheader at the University Athletic Association (UAA) Championships on Thursday afternoon, falling to Case Western Reserve University 6-5 in the early contest, before bouncing back with a 3-1 win over 17^th-ranked Washington University (Mo.) in the late game.

Emory now stands at 23-2 overall, including a 3-2 mark in UAA games, good for second place in the conference tournament standings at the end of day three.

Game 1 – Case 6, Emory 5

Claire Bailey got the Eagles started in the first inning of the game with a one-out solo home run to put Emory out in front 1-0.  On the mound, Amanda Kardys retired the first 10 Case batters in order, before finally surrendering a hit in the bottom of the fourth to Taylor Lemke.  Kardys would work around the hit though, and the Eagles would score runs in the top of the fifth on an RBI double from Moira Sullivan (who later scored from third base on a throw to second on a steal attempt), an RBI single from Lauren Gorodetsky, and a Case error that plated Ally Kersthold from third, giving Emory a 5-0 lead.

Case would begin its comeback in the bottom of the fifth, with a pair of two-run home runs from Ashley Parello and Molly O'Brien, but Brittany File would enter the game in relief and a strikeout to end the frame, preserving a one-run Emory lead, 5-4.

However, it would be Parello striking again for Case in bottom of the sixth, hitting her second two-run home run in as many innings and putting the Spartans on top for the first time in the game, 6-5.  Emory would go down in order in the top of the seventh to end the game.

Marisa Kohley earned the win, and Rebecca Taylor the save, for Case, which improved to 9-3 on the season and to 4-0 in UAA play to remain in first place in the conference standings.  File took the loss in the game for the Eagles.

Game 2 – Emory 3, Wash U. 1

The Eagles scored all three of their runs in the top of the sixth inning of the game on Hannah Sendel's one-out home run, her team-leading sixth of the year.  Washington got a run back in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run from Kelsey Neal, but Kardys went the distance in the game, closing out the Bears to earn the victory on the mound.

Kardys, now 15-1 this season, held the Bears to just three hits and a pair of walks, while striking out three batters.

Annie Pitkin took the loss for Washington, which fell to 9-3 overall, including a 2-3 mark at UAAs.

Emory will resume play at the 2014 UAA Championships on Friday, March 14^th at 10:00 AM against the University of Rochester.