The Emory University softball program concluded the Ulili Softball Tournament on Saturday afternoon in Honolulu, Hawaii going undefeated with two more wins on the final day.
The Eagles improve to 14-2 on the season, one of the best starts in program history, and will look to open conference play when they return to Atlanta.
Game 1: Emory 11, Oneonta 0
The Eagles were fired up after a rest day on Friday and struck first in the top of the first inning. With two outs, sophomore
Ellie Zerr started the rally with a double followed by an RBI single from junior
Ella Hoyle.
After a walk from sophomore
Sonia Klein, freshman
Shivani Nangia continued the momentum with a ground-rule double to score Hoyle with sophomore
Lillian Ware driving a triple to center field to bring in the third and fourth runs of the inning. Sophomore
Grace Cooper finished the inning with a single to give the Eagles a 5-0 lead.
Emory was able to tack on three more runs in the top of the third inning with a single and a stolen base from Klein starting the inning. With the bases loaded, Cooper notched another RBI with a groundout to score Klein and advance runners to second and third. Sophomore
Abby Wylie followed with a bases-clearing double to score two more runs for the Eagles in the inning.
A hit by pitch and two singles opened the top of the fifth inning for Emory to load the bases. Klein stepped up to the plate and drove a bases-clearing double to score three more runs in the inning and give the Eagles an 11-0 lead.
Junior
Mackenzie Duford dominated in the circle earning her seventh win of the season. She allowed just three hits to the Red Dragons and struck out five batters in the victory.
Game 2: Emory 6, Puget Sound 2
Sophomore
Lexi Bach got the start in the circle for game two and opened with three quick outs in the bottom of the first inning. Emory struck next in the top of the second inning with a single and a stolen base from Nangia starting the frame. Cooper was able to reach first on an error from the Loggers' defense which allowed Nangia to score.
The Eagles were able to add more runs to their tally in the top of the fourth inning on an RBI double from Cooper followed by an RBI single from Wylie.
The rain started falling halfway through the game causing wet conditions for both pitchers. Puget Sound was able to take advantage of the weather and score on a wild pitch in the bottom of the fourth inning cutting Emory's lead to 3-1. They added their second run in the bottom of the fifth notching two hits in the inning and forcing a pitching change from the Eagles.
Emory finished the game in the top of the seventh adding three more runs on four hits including a two-run single from Hoyle for a 6-2 lead. Junior
Isabel Cohen closed out the game in the circle for the Eagles' sixth win in Hawaii.
The Eagles will open conference play this weekend facing the Brandeis Judges on Friday and Saturday with Friday's game beginning at 3:00 PM.
