PRESCOTT, Ariz. Â A pair of dramatic, walk-off hits lifted the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) softball team to a sweep over the University of Saint Katherine, pushing the Eagles current win streak to a season best six games. A home run in the bottom of the seventh by senior Daisy Hatcher-Taylor (Bakersfield, Calif.) gave ERAU a 5-4 win in game one, while in game two it was senior Hannah DeLuna (Tucson, Ariz.) that delivered the game-winning hit, a double in the bottom of the eighth that gave ERAU a 9-8 victory. Sophomore Carly Carlsen (Littleton, Colo.) picked up the win in both games for the Eagles.

Game 1
Embry-Riddle (12-6) scored in its first at-bat when junior Bailey Critchlow (Stockton, Utah) led off with a triple and then scored on a single by DeLuna. Saint Katherine matched the run with a score in the third and then took the lead with three in the fourth, two of which scored on a double by Mallory Mitchiner.

After collecting just two hits over the second through fifth innings, Embry-Riddle rallied in the fifth to tie it. A hit batter, a wild pitch, and a single put runners on second and third for freshman Haley Basye (Tucson, Ariz.) who plated both runs with a base-hit to left. Bayse, who made it to third on her hit on an errant throw, then came home with the tying run on a fielder's choice play.

Carlsen came on to pitch in the fourth for EARU and shutdown the Firebirds the rest of the way, allowing just three hits and striking out five to give to allow the Eagles to make their comeback. After Carlsen struck out the side in the sixth and then worked around a one-out double in the seventh, DeLuna led off the bottom of the seventh for ERAU and put it in the win column for the Eagles when she lofted a 3-1 pitch over the fence in left center.

Game 2
In the bottom of the first Embry-Riddle got things going quickly when the Eagles loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a single. An error on a comeback to the pitcher let the first run in and kept the bases loaded for junior Katey Moore (Pleasanton, Calif.), who singled in two more to make it 3-0 before another error gave the Eagles a 3-0 lead. ERAU then pushed across three more in the second, getting run-scoring doubles from Basye and Hatcher-Taylor and an RBI single senior Kaila Romero (Lancaster, Calif.).

Saint Katherine then started its comeback, loading the bases in the third with no outs and going on to score three times. Marissa Juarez came on in the third to pitch for the Firebirds and held Embry-Riddle in check for four innings, allowing her team to complete a comeback.

After the three-spot in the third, Saint Katherine picked up single runs in the fourth and fifth, closing to 7-5. In the sixth the Firebirds picked up four hits and scored three times, with a two-out double by Natalia Ledesma putting Saint Katherine up, 8-7. With two aboard Carlsen came on to pitch for the Eagles and recorded the final out to keep it a one-run game.

Needing a run to tie it in the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles got it when Hathcer-Taylor led off with a double, moved to third on a single and came home on a pinch-hit single by junior Rylee Payton (Lacey, Wash.). The Eagles came closing to winning it when they loaded the bases after tying the game, but Carlsen lined into a double-play to send the game to extra innings.

Starting with a runner on second using the tie-breaker rule, Saint Katherine moved the runner to third with one down, but Carlsen stranded her there when she got the next hitter to ground out before striking out the final batter to give Embry-Riddle another chance to win it.

With Carlsen starting at second to begin the ERAU half of the eighth, DeLuna stepped in to lead off and doubled to the gap in right, plating Carlsen with the winning run.
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