MESA, Ariz. – In the opening doubleheader of a showdown between the two teams atop the California Pacific Conference softball standings, it was Embry-Riddle that came out on top as the Eagles swept the opening contests of the series against Park-Gilbert, 7-0, and 6-2 in nine innings. Sophomore Vanessa Brink (Vail, Ariz.) tossed a complete game shutout in game one and senior Diana Miranda Montano (Tucson, Ariz.) hit a pair of home runs for the Eagles in game two. With the wins the Eagles clinched a spot in the Cal Pac Tournament that ERAU will host in May.

Game 1

Brink was outstanding in game one, retiring the first nine hitters she faced before giving up a single to the leadoff hitter in the fourth. She finished with a two-hit shutout, striking out eight without issuing a walk.

Brink picked up the only runs she would need in the first before she stepped in the circle. A pair of singles and a walk loaded the bases for senior Kate Delaney (Fort Collins, Colo.), who drew the second walk of the inning to bring in the first run. Junior Sam Holbert (Gilbert, Ariz.) followed and gave the Eagles a 5-0 lead with a grand slam, her third home run of the season.

Holbert picked up her fifth RBI of the night in the second with an RBI single. The Eagles polished off the win in the fourth when freshmen Leah Salas (Sahuarita, Ariz.) cranked out her fifth round tripper of the year.

Game 2

A solo home run by Miranda Montano in the first gave Embry-Riddle the early lead in the nightcap. Park came back with a long ball of its own, a two-run shot in the third to take its first lead of the doubleheader. ERAU got that run right back in the fourth when Delaney led off with a single, eventually coming around to score on a double off the bat of sophomore Lily Anderson (Flagstaff, Ariz.).

From there it stayed tied at 2-2 and the game went into extra innings. In the top of the ninth Embry-Riddle finally broke through with what proved to be the game-winning rally. Junior Bradee Jeffery (Manteca, Calif.) led off with a single and then scored on Miranda Montano's second round tripper of the game. The Eagles then loaded the bases and, with two away, Anderson and freshman Autumn Sulusi (Kaneohe, Hawai'i) came up with infield hits to plate to more and make it a 6-2 ERAU lead.

Freshman Claire Streeter (San Marino, Calif.) then did the rest, coming back to retire three straight after allowing a leadoff walk in the ninth to close it out. She went all the way in the circle, with the only blemish against her the two-run homer in the third. She allowed just three hits and worked around six walks, striking out six to pick up her 14^th win of the season.