The Emory University softball team went 1-1 on Friday afternoon on the first day of the Eagles Elite Invitational taking a win against the No. 17 Pfeiffer Falcons in game one.
 
The Eagles move to 7-1 on the season and pick up their first ranked win of the year. Emory fought a tough battle in game two against the No. 25 St. John Fisher Cardinals but fell short 4-1 in seven innings. Junior Mackenzie Duford led the Eagles in the circle throwing a complete game against the Falcons, her fourth win of the season. Sophomore Sonia Klein was a perfect 3-for-3 in the box notching two runs and an RBI against the Falcons.
 
Game 1: Emory 8, Pfeiffer 5
 
Pfeiffer struck early in the top of the first inning with a walk and a double but a relay from freshman Rylie Ballog in left field to sophomore Lillian Ware at home caught the runner to avoid the run. Sophomore Ellie Zerr jumped on the home run train again in the bottom of the inning with a two-run shot to center field giving the Eagles a 2-0 lead.
 
The Falcons were able to reclaim the lead in the top of the second after an offensive run. Pfeiffer notched three runs on four hits in the inning but Duford was able to strand a runner to avoid more damage. The Falcons struck again in the top of the third with two runs to hold a 5-2 lead after two and a half innings.
 
The bottom of the fourth was all Emory offense as the Eagles opened with a walk and two singles to load the bases. After two quick outs from the Falcons' defense, Emory went on a two-out rally. Freshman Shivani Nangia drove a two-RBI single followed by a game-tying single from junior Ashley Chu. Sophomore Grace Cooper finished the scoring run with a bases-clearing double to give the Eagles a 7-5 lead after the fourth inning.
 
Emory scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning on a solo shot from Klein. The Falcons failed to get another base runner in the game and the Eagles clinched the win, 8-5.
 
Game 2: St. John Fisher 4, Emory 1
 
The Cardinals put Emory into an early jam in the top of the first loading the bases before a walk brought in the first run of the game. The next few innings were scoreless from both teams before a home run from St. John Fisher strengthened their lead to 3-0.
 
Freshman Lauryn Selvaraj came into the circle for relief in the top of the third and only allowed one run for the remainder of the game later in the top of the fourth. In the bottom of the fourth and the fifth, the Eagles were able to get a base runner via walk, but the Cardinals' pitching continued to push through holding Emory scoreless.
 
Later in the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles opened with three straight singles to load the bases sending freshman Ellie Estridge to the plate. She followed with a single of her own to bring in a run for Emory but the Cardinals were able to finish with three quick outs to secure their fifth win of the season.
 
The Eagles will return to Cooper Field on Saturday, March 8 to face Pfeiffer at 12:00 PM and St. John Fisher at 2:00 PM on the final day of the Eagles Elite Invitational.