Eagles Defeat Tennessee State, Fall to Syracuse at UCF Invitational

Syracuse Box Score

Tennessee State Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Eastern Michigan University softball team snapped a seven-game losing streak by defeating the Tennessee State Tigers, 10-9 on a walk-off single, at the UCF Invitational, Feb. 28. The Eagles had dropped an earlier 6-3 decision to Syracuse. With the split, EMU is now 4-8 on the year.

In the 10-9 victory over Tennessee State, the Eagles hit double-digits in runs for the first time in 2009 on a season-best 13 hits. Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) went 3-for-4 at the plate, while freshman Sarah Gerber (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) was 2-for-3 with three RBI. Sophomore Lauren Delapaz (Plymouth, Mich.-Canton) was 2-for-4 with two runs scored while knocking in the winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory) picked up her second win of 2009, pitching 5.0 innings of scoreless relief.

The Eagles fell behind 3-0 after the top half of the first, but were able to put a run on the board in the bottom half of the inning. After giving up another three runs in the second inning to increase the deficit to 6-1, EMU exploded for six runs in the bottom of the second to take a slim 7-6 lead.

TSU's bats continued to stay hot, plating another three runs in the third to regain a 9-7 lead. The Eagles held the Tigers scoreless the rest of the way, while scoring another three for the win. With the score tied at nine entering the bottom half of the seventh inning, Delapaz delivered with a one-out RBI single up the middle, scoring Jessica Patterson (Ionia, Mich.-Ionia) for the win.

Against the Orange earlier in the day, the Eagles had three players tally two hits apiece. Skodinski, McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) and Kelsey Greene (Burr Oak, Mich.-Burr Oak) all had two base knocks, with Kaylee Tolliver (Amanda, Ohio-Amanda Clearcreek) notching two RBI.

The Eagles scored a run in the second inning off a Tolliver single through the left side to take an early 1-0 lead, but then yielded three runs to the Orange in the third frame. A two-run EMU fourth, with RBIs by Russ and Tolliver, tied the game at 3-3. The Eagles were able to keep Syracuse off the board for two innings, but the Orange broke through with three runs in the sixth to capture a 6-3 decision. Caropitched 5.0 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits while striking out six to pick up the loss.

The Eagles conclude the UCF Invitational tomorrow, March 1, when they take on first-time opponent Stony Brook at 9:30 a.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Eagles Defeat Tennessee State, Fall to Syracuse at UCF Invitational

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