LANCASTER, Calif. – Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University's (Ariz.) softball team completed a four-game sweep against host Antelope Valley to open California Pacific Conference play, downing the Pioneers by scores of 8-1 and 10-4. Senior Kate Delaney (Fort Collins, Colo.) had a big day at the plate, combining to go 5-for-7, including a double and home run, with four RBIs, while sophomore Vanessa Brink (Vail, Ariz.) continued her strong pitching, fanning 14 in the game one victory.

Game 1

Brink gave up a first inning home run to the second batter she faced, but shut down Antelope Valley (4-10, 0-4 Cal Pac) after that, surrendering just two more hits and a walk to the rest of the way. Her 14 strikeouts are tied for the second most in a game in her career.

Embry-Riddle (9-7, 4-0 Cal Pac) made up its one-run deficit in the third, getting a sac fly from Delaney before sophomore Emma Almodoba (Tucson, Ariz.) hit one out for a 3-1 lead. The Eagles added three more in the fifth, with freshman Autumn Sulusi (Kaneohe, Hawai'i) delivering an RBI double and fellow freshman Anise Romo (Waddell, Ariz.) adding an RBI ground out.

ERAU then polished off the win with single runs in the sixth and seventh, with Sulusi adding a sac fly and freshman Leah Salas (Sahuarita, Ariz.) and RBI groundout.

Game 2

In game two Delaney had a two-out RBI single in the first to get Embry-Riddle on the board. In the third the Eagles put two on with a walk and a hit batter for Salas, who brought home both runners with a two-bagger. Delaney then doubled in Salas and junior Jaden Espinoza (Tucson, Ariz.) cranked a two-double to make it 5-0.

ERAU starter, freshman Claire Streeter (San Marino, Calif.), cruised through the first three innings, but ran into trouble in the fourth when Antelope Valley rallied for four runs on three hits, all doubles. The Eagles came back in the top of the fifth, scoring five times to put it away. Delaney started the inning with her home run and then, with two away, sophomore Bradee Jeffery (Manteca, Calif.) singled home one run before senior Diana Miranda Montano (Tucson, Ariz.) closed out the scoring with a three-run home run.

Junior Marissa Sanchez (Denver, Colo.) came out of the pen to toss the final three innings, limiting the Pioneers to just one hit the rest of the way to pick up her first save of the season.