PRESCOTT, ARIZ. – The Embry-Riddle softball team split the first day of the season's most important series on Saturday, and had an opportunity to set itself apart at the top of the Cal Pac on Sunday. The Eagles got the job done, taking the final two games over Simpson and winning three of the series' four games.

Game 1: Embry-Riddle 9, Simpson 1 (5 innings)

The Eagles guaranteed itself at least a series split with its run-rule victory in the morning game. The Eagles did trail early on, as the Red Hawks scored the game's first run with a single following an error that allowed a runner to get into scoring position.

From there, Embry-Riddle pitching held off Simpson, not allowing a run in the final four innings of the game. Vanessa Brink started the game, going the first three innings and allowing just the one unearned run, then Mikaeli Davidson pitched the final two frames without allowing a hit and striking out three.

While the Eagles trailed after the top half of the first inning, they got those runs back and more in the bottom half. Embry-Riddle answered with three runs, two of those coming thanks to Alexus Marquez's home run to left field.

Marquez was 3-for-3 in game one, driving in three runs and scoring twice herself. Marquez recorded her third RBI of the day on an infield single, setting the Eagles up for the run-rule victory.

Embry-Riddle put together its best offensive inning in the fourth, allowing them the opportunity to end the game early. The Eagles scored six runs as they fired up its offense, getting five hits, including a triple by Maddie Judge.

Game 2: Embry-Riddle 13, Simpson 7

The scoring did not start until the second inning in the final game of the afternoon, and this time it was Simpson taking a 3-1 lead. The Eagles kept the Red Hawks off the board in the third inning, and that's when ERAU's offense took back over.

Embry-Riddle scored four runs in the third inning, with three of those coming via Davidson's three-run home run. Davidson now has a hit in every game she has recorded a plate appearance, and now hitting .472 on the season.

Marquez hit another home run in the fourth, boosting the Eagle lead even more. Marquez finished Sunday with six hits, two home runs, and driving in four runs.

The Red Hawks took the lead again in the top of the fifth, drilling a three-run blast of its own to take a one run lead. Aleena Alexander tripled to tie the game in the bottom of the fifth, and the Embry-Riddle offense took over in the sixth.

Off the bench, Diana Miranda Montano tripled down the left field line to bring in a pair of runs and regain the lead. ERAU continued to pile on, adding a total of six runs to set themselves up for the victory in the seventh.

Four different players had multi-hit games for Embry-Riddle, and the team had 13 hits on the day. The Eagles walked three times, only struck out thrice as well, while ERAU pitching struck out 12 Simpson hitters.

The Eagles will head to California to play in its first road conference series of the year against Westcliff. The first doubleheader on Saturday, March 19 is scheduled for 11 a.m.