Softball Defeats JU, Falls to UCF in Day Two of UCF Invite

Box Scores: Game One. Game Two.

ORLANDO, Fla. (EMUEagles.com) — The Eastern Michigan University softball team split a pair of games this evening at the Courtyard by Marriot University of Central Florida Invitational, defeating Jacksonville University 6-2 before losing to UCF, 7-2.

Despite being outhit by Jacksonville 9-10 in game one, the Green and White (2-2) managed to take advantage of three JU errors and left just three runners stranded on base.

Katy Blaharski paced the Eagles offensively with three hits in three at bats while driving in an RBI and scoring once. Jessica Richards also registered a multi-hit game with a 2-for-3 effort and stole two bases in the contest.

Jenna Ignowski improves to 2-0 on the year in her 10th career complete game performance. In seven innings of work, the junior struck out five and held the Dolphins to just two runs.

The Green and White opened up the contest with a potent offensive stand, plating two runs on three hits. Richards led off the frame with an infield single and eventually made her way to third on a hit by Blaharski. With two outs, McKenna Russ would drive in her first RBI of the 2012 campaign, plating Richards from third to put EMU on top, 1-0. Blaharski also scored on that same play thanks to a JU throwing error, increasing the Eagles lead to two.

The Dolphins would retaliate with two runs of their own in the bottom of the second, but a two-run bomb off the bat of Nellie Coquillard would help the Eagles reclaim its lead in the fourth, 4-2.

EMU tagged on insurances runs in the fifth and seventh inning before closing out a 6-2 win.
In the nightcap, the Eagles defense committed four errors which attributed to five unearned runs for the Knights.

The home team jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, but EMU did not hesitate to respond, scoring two runs of its own in the top of the second. Russ led off the inning with a double to center field and was waved around to score on an Allison Scherer single to left. Scherer eventually scored after JU attempted to pick off Amanda Stanton, knotting the game at two apiece.

From there, the Eagles' bats went stagnant, while UCF drove in another five runs and picked up the 7-2 victory.

Lindsay Rich (0-1) threw 2.2 innings in the loss. The freshman gave up two earned runs and four UCF hits.

Blaharski and Scherer accounted for four of their team's five hits in the contest, with Blaharski tallying two knocks in the game and Scherer adding two and an RBI this evening.

EMU will compete in the final day of the UCF Invite with games against Florida Gulf Coast and UCF. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., respectively. Live stats will be available at EMUEagles.com.

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Team Stats

Katy Blaharski

Jessica Richards

McKenna Russ

Nellie Coquillard

Eastern Michigan Athletics