DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The 14th ranked Auburn University at Montgomery softball team split the first day of the Eagle Classic after a thrilling 8-7 win over host Embry-Riddle before falling 5-3 to the University of Tampa in game two.
AUM moves to 4-1 after the two games on Friday. Embry-Riddle finishes the day with a 1-2 record overall while Tampa, who were receiving votes in the latest national polls, move to 4-2 on the young season.
In game one, newcomer Hannah Creel netted her first victory in nearly two seasons and her first as a Warhawk after she threw three innings in relief. Molly Cobb and Haley Ann Frank netted multi-hit games as Cobb launched her first home run of the season and Frank knocked in a key two-run double.
The former all-American Cobb got the offense started early against the Eagles in game one. She came up to the plate with no one on and two outs and proceeded to launch a ball over the left-center field fence to put AUM up early.
Embry-Riddle responded in a big way in the bottom of the first off of freshman Morgan Ferguson. The Eagles struck for four runs in the first inning after allowing a two-run double, an RBI triple, and another on a first and third steal that saw the Eagles net their fourth run of the inning.
After the Cobb home run in the first inning, the Eagles' pitching kept the potent Warhawk offense at bay, as the Warhawks would not score again until the fifth inning.
With two runners on in the fifth inning, Frank came to the plate and ripped a double into left field to score both runners and cut into the Eagle lead, running the score to 5-3 in favor of Embry-Riddle. Frank would later score on a wild pitch to get the Orange & Black to within one.
Newcomer Chloe Derrick would take get in on the fun in the fifth inning for AUM as she would reach on an error by the first basemen to score Olivia Aycock from third. The scoring concluded in the fifth inning for AUM after a two-run triple from Gia Martin gave AUM a 7-5 lead.
After Shelby Newsome scored on a wild pitch in the top of the fifth inning, the Eagles would come back in the bottom half of the inning and loaded the bases with nobody out in the frame.
The Eagles managed a walk with the bases juiced to start the scoring in the bottom of the sixth to run the score to 8-6 in favor of AUM. Embry-Riddle would manage a second run in the inning on a fielder's choice, but Brinkly Yevak would shut the door in the inning and would go on to record her first save of the year to give AUM an 8-7 win.
Freshman arm Avery Dickerson saw her first action of the season in game two of the doubleheader against the University of Tampa. She relieved Yevak and threw 5.1 innings without allowing a run while striking out one batter.
The first inning against the Spartans did not go the way of the Warhawks as Tampa would post five runs in the opening frame. A walk, a sacrifice bunt, and a stolen base placed a runner on third with one out and was brought home on an RBI single to open the scoring.
Two consecutive doubles followed the RBI single to stretch the Tampa lead to 3-0 early in game two. An RBI groundout for the Spartans was followed by an RBI single to give Tampa a quick 5-0 lead over the Warhawks. Yevak would only last .2 innings in the loss to the Spartans.
The Warhawk offense was held scoreless for five innings as the Tampa starter threw seven innings, allowing just five hits while striking out four.
AUM did, however, attempt a comeback in the sixth inning as Aycock was able to drive in a pair of runs on a two-run triple to cut the Tampa lead to 5-2. The scoring ended on a Cobb bloop single that scored the AUM shortstop, but it wouldn't be enough as the Spartans came away with a 5-2 win.
The Orange & Black will conclude the Eagle Classic tomorrow when they will face off against Tampa and Embry-Riddle once more. AUM will open with a rematch against Tampa at 9 a.m. before ending the day against Embry-Riddle at 11:30.
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The 2022 "All In For AUM" Campaign is a department-wide fundraiser taking place from Feb. 6-12. All donations this week, regardless of amount, are greatly appreciated and will go towards continuing to enhance our athletic programs. Donations can be made at the link below.
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