Eastern Michigan Athletics
Eastern Michigan University
Villanova
Eagles Open Season With 13-5 Win Over Villanova
2/27/2010 1:33:10 AM | Softball
Sophomore Sarah Gerber goes 4-for-4 in EMU's win over their Big East Conference foe, the Wildcats
Box Score
FORT MYERS, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) – The Eastern Michigan University softball team used a six-run fifth inning to pull away from Villanova en route to a 13-5 season opening win at the FGCU Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla. Friday evening, Feb. 26.
The Eagles took advantage of four Wildcat errors, turning them into six unearned runs en route to the win. Sarah Gerber paced the Eagles offensively, going 4-for-4 at the dish with three runs scored and three runs batted in.
After a scoreless first for the Green and White, Gerber started a two-run second inning with a leadoff single up the middle. She eventually came around to score on a throwing error. The Eagles would add to their 2-0 lead in the fourth following yet another leadoff single by Gerber. She gave EMU a 3-0 lead when she scored on a Jessica Patterson single to left. The senior, Patterson, finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI from the nine-hole.
Villanova strung together a two-run rally on a pair of hits in the bottom half of the frame off Eagle pitcher Michelle Hletko, but that didn't knock her off her game. The senior who threw the 11th no-hitter in EMU history against Albany to kick off the 2009 campaign pitched four strong innings to get the season opening win in 2010 as well.
Lauren Delapaz led off the fifth with a triple down the right field line followed by a sacrifice fly to center by senior Jenny Scherer. Scherer finished the game 1-for-3 with an RBI. Stacie Skodinski then drew one of her four walks on the night and advanced to second on an Allison Scherer walk to get into scoring position for Gerber who drove her in with a single. The next four batters would reach base, bringing Delapaz to the plate for the second time in the inning. The junior stroked an RBI single up the middle to make the score 9-3 Eagles. Delapaz finished the day 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI.
Junior transfer, Jamie Melchert came in to pitch the final three innings of relief, allowing just two hits while striking out five. The Eagles will take part in a double-dip against Minnesota and St. Francis (Pa.) Saturday, Feb. 27. First pitch with the Gophers is slated for 11:15 a.m. while the Eagles and Red Flash will get started at approximately 8:15 p.m.
