TUCSON, Ariz. – On its first day at the Tucson Invitational, the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's (Ariz.) softball team split its first two games, dropping its opener, 6-5, to Saint Clair College before bouncing back behind the strong pitching of sophomore Vanessa Brink (Vail, Ariz.). She fanned 12 in a complete-game performance that led the Eagles to a 5-0 win over Dickinson State.  

Game 1

Embry-Riddle (10-8) picked up a first inning run against Saint Clair when senior Kate Delaney (Fort Collins, Colo.) stroked a two-out double that scored freshman Leah Salas (Sahuarita, Ariz.), who had reached on an error.

It stayed that way until the fourth when the Saints erupted for all their runs. After scoring one on a walk and a pair of singles, Saint Clair loaded the bases with one down. A bunt brought across the lead run before a two-run double put the Saints up 4-1. A fielder's choice play and an RBI single completed the big inning, making it 6-1.

Embry-Riddle came right back in the bottom half of the inning. Sophomore Emma Almodoba (Tucson, Ariz.) led off with a double before senior Jenna Sumpter (Ahwatukee, Ariz.) brought her home with a triple to right. Freshman Anise Romo (Waddell, Ariz.) followed with a run scoring double, with senior Diana Miranda Montano (Tucson, Ariz.) bringing her home with an RBI single to make it 6-4. The Eagles got back within a run in the fifth when Sumpter drew a bases loaded walk, but they could not come up with more, leaving seven runners on over the last three innings after making it a one-run game.

Game 2

Brink was sharp in the second game of the day against Dickinson State. She reached double figures in strikeouts for a second straight outing, scattering six hits and not issuing a walk as she won her third consecutive start.  

ERAU picked up all the runs it would need with a four-run fifth. An error and an infield hit put two on for Miranda Montano, who broke up the scoreless tie with a single to center. With two down Delaney dropped one down the line in left for a two-run double, and then came around to score on a throwing error on the Blue Hawks shortstop.

Almodoba gave the Eagles an insurance run in the seventh with a base-hit to right. Brink allowed an infield hit in the bottom of the seventh, but that would be it as she struck out a pair in the final frame to pick up her fourth victory of the season.