The No. 15 ranked Emory softball team took on Berry College in a home doubleheader Saturday afternoon in Atlanta. The Eagles took the first game 3-2 to hand the Vikings their first loss of the season but Berry returned the favor in the second game, dealing Emory its first loss by the same margin.

Game 1: Emory 3, Berry 2

After going scoreless in the first inning, the Vikings got on the board first in the second with a home run from Kennedy Moody to start the inning.

The Vikings also crossed home plate in the top of the third, with Madison Mill scoring off a fly out to bring the score to 2-0.

The Eagles found their first run in the bottom of the third as a single from junior Ellie Zerr brought senior Ashley Chu home to make it 2-1.

The Vikings did not respond in the top of the fourth, but the Eagles kept their momentum going as rookie Gabriela Oceguera scored on a wild pitch to tie it 2-2. Later in the inning, a sacrifice fly from sophomore Ellie Estridge brought rookie Zoe Horning in to give the Eagles the 3-2 lead.

Senior Mackenzie Duford recorded her third win of the season as she spun a complete game, limiting BC to two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out five.
The final three innings went scoreless as Berry was unable to respond, with the Eagles earning their fifth win of the season against the Vikings.

Game 2: Berry 3, Emory 2

The second game saw three scoreless innings on both sides, but Emory got on the board in the fourth thanks to a single from junior Abby Wylie that helped Oceguera score to make it 1-0. Later in the inning, her classmate Ella Janish got a walk with the bases loaded to help sophomore Shivani Nangia score to extend their lead to 2-0.

The fifth inning would also go scoreless as Berry earned their first run in the top of the sixth thanks to an RBI from Rachel Runsick.

The Eagles failed to respond at the plate in the sixth, but the Vikings kept it rolling in the top of the seventh as a double from Elly Bennett brought the score to 2-2. The Vikings would take the lead later in the inning, with Moody earning the RBI on a fielder's choice to bring Bennett home and give them the 3-2 lead.

Emory tried to put together an offensive response with a double from Horning, but the Eagles couldn't get it done as they fell to the Vikings 3-2.

The Eagles will hit the road next weekend as they head south to Columbus, GA for the NFCA Leadoff Classic, taking on #9 East Texas Baptist in their first game on Friday.