PRESCOTT, Ariz. – After a brilliant pitching display by Carly Carlsen (JR/Littleton, Colo.) in game one of the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) softball double header with La Sierra University, the Eagles mounted a five run come back in game two to force extras but gave up a six spot in the eighth to drop the second.
Carlsen had it going early as she only allowed two hits through three innings of work and gave the Eagles (7-14, 1-1 Cal Pac) a chance to get on the board first. A couple of thwarted rallies were all that Riddle could come up with until they found a good one in the third. Elyssa Bramer (JR/Lancaster, Calif.) and Bailey Critchlow (SR/Stockton, Utah) led off the inning with a pair of singles. Which set up Mikaeli Davidson (FR/Tempe, Ariz.) to drive in Bramer on a single up the middle. The cleanup hitter Haley Basye (SO/Tucson, Ariz.) would deliver the big two run double in the very next at bat to get the Eagles a 3-0 lead.
Despite a rather long top of the fourth where the Eagles gave up an unearned run, Carlsen was dominant the rest of the way. Only one Golden Eagle (7-13, 1-1 Cal Pac) was able to get a hit off of her in the final three innings. Critchlow would score Caeden McKelvey (FR/Prescott, Ariz.) on a two-out double in the sixth to give Carlsen an extra cushion heading into the seventh. Carlsen wouldn't need the help though as she would retire LSU after giving up a leadoff walk. ERAU would take the first, 4-1.
Game two was much different than game one as both offenses woke up and more specifically the Golden Eagles were brought back to life. A quiet first inning by both offenses led to a loud second inning for LSU as they put up four on Davidson who got the start in game two. LSU would scratch another across in the fourth and forced the Eagles to bring back in game one started Carlsen. Despite throwing 106 pitches in the first game, Carlsen picked up right where she left off and started mowing LSU down.
It would take some time for ERAU to wake their bats up but they finally got on the board in the fifth on a Zoe Streadbeck (SO/Ewa Beach, Hawaii) RBI single through the six-hole in between the shortstop and third baseman. Bramer would get an RBI in the sixth to set up Critchlow who demolished a ball to right center well beyond the friendly confines and got the Eagles back to within one run. In the very next inning, in a 0-2 count Davidson hit a solo shot to straight away center field and tied it. A strange bunt play allowed the Golden Eagles to get out of trouble when they turned two on it. Six runs in the top of the eighth ultimately ended it for the Eagles as they dropped game two, 11-5.
It was a monstrous day for Critchlow at the dish as she went 6-7 with a double, two-run homerun (1), and two RBI. Davidson had a strong performance in the box going a combined 4-7 with a double and a solo homerun (2). Quietly Bramer and Jamieson put together good at bats and went a combined 7-12.
Riddle is back at it again early Friday (3/29) as they take on La Sierra in the second set of conference double headers at 11:00 am MST.
