TUCSON, Ariz. – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Ariz.) played in two games that were decided in the final innings on Monday when they lost a heartbreaker to No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan, 5-4, and beat Dakota Wesleyan with three runs in the bottom of the sixth, 6-3.

Things were looking good for the Eagles (2-8) in the first inning against the national ranked Wildcats (9-2). After Bailey Critchlow (SR/Stockton, Utah) walked to lead off the game and Elyssa Bramer (JR/Lancaster, Calif.) followed with a single. ERAU would be gifted a run on an error and got a quick 1-0 lead. Later in the inning, Zoe Streadbeck (SO/Ewa Beach, Hawaii) would add another run for Riddle with a single before they would move to the bottom half. A Tanaya Krenik (SO/Great Falls, Mont.) RBI single and Aleena Alexander (FR/Tucson, Ariz.) RBI double in the third and fourth got ERAU a four run lead.

Up to this point ERAU's Mikaeli Davidson (FR/Tempe, Ariz.) was cruising through the Wildcat order and had stranded five over four innings. IWU would get on the board in the bottom half of the fifth after a triple set up an easy RBI opportunity which was taken advantage of. She would bounce back and go 1-2-3 in the heart of the Wildcat order before things got out of hand. Three unearned runs in the seventh kept the game going and it went to extras where IWU utilized the international tie breaker to their benefit and walked it off on a single by the seven-hole hitter.

Once again the Eagles jumped out early and got the lead, thanks to Critchlow's lead-off single followed by a Mikendra Kramar (SO/Livermore, Calif.) RBI single to score the Utahan. Carly Carlsen (JR/Littleton, Colo.) had it going through the first four to keep the lead where it was, facing one more than the minimum (13 batters). After a dicey fifth inning, the Eagles tacked on two more runs in the bottom half before giving up three to the Tigers (2-8) in the sixth.

As Critchlow did all day, she led the inning off with a single and the Eagles were cooking. Bramer would walk, which was followed by a sac bunt to get both runners out of the double play and into scoring position. A bases loaded walk by Mackenzie Rod (JR/Tucson, Ariz.) got the eventual winning run across the dish. Two more runs would come across and the Eagles were in command once again. Davidson would shut the door in the seventh and ERAU grabbed their second win of the season.

Critchlow had herself a day going a combined 4-5 with four runs, four walks, and had seven assists to help ERAU. Davidson was also magnificent giving up only two earned runs in 9 2/3 innings of work and grabbed the win in the second game.

Riddle now heads to Florida to play in The Spring Games 2019 in Clermont where they will play on Saturday (3/9) University of Saint Francis at 6:45 am MST and Warner University at 9:00 am MST. All the action can be found here: https://www.flosoftball.com/events/6261157-2019-the-spring-games