Embry-Riddle fell to Benedictine Mesa twice on Saturday at Chandler Gilbert Community College. The first game, the Eagles lost 13-5 and the second 9-3.
Game 1
The Eagles collected 10 hits and produced scoring innings in four of the six frames, highlighted by a three-hit performance from
Ryan Da Costa, who sparked the offense from the top of the order. Da Costa doubled to open the third inning and later scored on a sacrifice fly, part of a sequence that helped ERAU erase an early deficit.
After falling behind 3–0 in the first, the Eagles chipped away immediately.
Danica Quinn brought home the first run with a sacrifice fly in the second inning.
ERAU's strongest push came in the third. Da Costa's leadoff double and aggressive baserunning set up
Leah Salas, who delivered a sacrifice fly to pull the Eagles within one. Moments later,
Katie Jamieson punched a single to right to score
Kealey Myhre, tying the game at 3–3.
Embry-Riddle briefly reclaimed the lead in the fourth when Salas lifted her second sac fly of the day, scoring
Arianna Garcia to make it 4–3.
Benedictine Mesa answered with three unearned runs in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of two Eagle miscues.
ERAU continued to fight, pulling within 6–5 in the sixth after another productive sequence from the top of the order. Da Costa and Salas singled, and Jill Bock delivered a sacrifice fly to score Presley Geissinger.
But the Redhawks responded with a decisive seven-run bottom half, fueled by walks, a hit-by-pitch, and five hits. The inning included RBI from Larson, Madrazo, Lopez, Rice, Tufnell, and Gabriel.
Game 2
ERAU collected six hits, including extra-base knocks from Katie Jamieson and Ryan Da Costa, while Leah Salas and Anise Romo each delivered sacrifice flies to keep the Eagles within striking distance through the middle innings.
The Eagles opened the scoring in the second inning after Kealey Myhre reached on a walk and Jamieson ripped a double to right.
After Benedictine Mesa answered with two runs in the bottom half, ERAU responded again in the fourth. Jamieson doubled for the second time, moved to third, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Romo.
Da Costa continued her standout day at the plate, tripling to right to open the fifth inning. Salas followed with a sac fly to tie the game at 3–3.
ERAU briefly held momentum, but Benedictine Mesa countered with a five-run surge in the bottom half, capitalizing on an error and four consecutive run-producing swings. The inning included a two-RBI double from Chloe Wright and a two-RBI triple from Alexa Rice.
Benedictine Mesa added two more in the sixth, extending the lead to 9–3. ERAU's defense produced a key double play attempt during the inning, but the Redhawks' offense continued to find gaps.
Embry-Riddle will host Hope International next week with the first game beginning at 12pm on Friday.
