Scherer's Walk-Off Home Run Leads Softball to Opening Day Split

EMU vs. Louisville Box Score

EMU vs. Minnesota Box Score

LOUISVILLE, Ky.- The Eastern Michigan University softball team split a pair of contests on the opening day of the Courtyard by Marriott Cardinal Tournament, March 13 at the University of Louisville. The Eagles fell to the No. 17/18 host Cardinals, 3-2, before regrouping to defeat the University of Minnesota, 5-2 in eight innings. EMU is now 6-9 on the year.

EMU picked up a win in the second contest of the evening, defeating Minnesota by a score of 5-2. The Golden Gophers put a run on the board in the first inning before the Eagles rallied in extra innings for the win. Junior Jenny Scherer (Stow, Ohio-Stow-Munroe) hit a three-run walk-off home run in the eighth inning to give the Eagles the come-from-behind victory.

Behind 2-0 in the fourth inning, McKenna Russ (North Canton, Ohio-Hoover) led off the frame with a double, scoring off a Heather Han (Lafayette, Ind.-McCutcheon) double. Stacie Skodinski (South Bend, Ind.-Washington) then brought Han home with a single of her own. After keeping Minnesota off the board for the next four innings, the Eagles completed the rally with Scherer's round-tripper. Sophomore Jaclyn Caro (Chino, Calif.-St. Lucy's Priory) went a complete game in the circle, pitching 8.0 innings, giving up two runs on six hits while fanning six batters.

In the first contest, the Eagles and Cardinals played scoreless ball for the first five innings before both scoring runs in the sixth. In the top of the sixth frame, EMU put two runs on the board, on the strength of a Kelsey Greene (Burr Oak, Mich.-Burr Oak) RBI single to center, scoring one run.Han, who advanced to third on the previous play, tacked on another run when she scored off a wild pitch to put the Eagles on top, 2-0. The Cards answered in the bottom half of the inning, plating three runs to take a 3-2 lead into the top of the seventh.

The Eagles could not mount a comeback in the seventh, as all three batters struck out to give U of L the win. The two teams split the season series, with EMU recording a 3-2 win, Feb. 20. Junior Michelle Hletko (Westmont, Ill.-Westmont) was charged with the loss, going 5.2 innings while giving up eight hits and three runs.

The Eagles continue play tomorrow, March 14, with a 10 a.m. contest against Illinois-Chicago. EMU is also scheduled to take on No. 22/17 Ohio State University at 4 p.m.

Eastern Michigan Athletics

Scherer's Walk-Off Home Run Leads Softball to Opening Day Split

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