From Emory University Athletics
Junior Taylor Forte provided the heroics on Friday afternoon, driving in the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Emory University Eagles to a 2-1 victory over Benedictine University in game of one of the best-of-three series in the NCAA Division III Super Regionals.
Forte hit a lazy fly ball that dropped between the two outfielders in the left center field gap which allowed freshman Jenna Wilson to score from third. With the victory, Emory (44-5) set a school record with its 44th win of the season and is now just one win away from the program's fourth trip to the College World Series.
Junior pitcher Brittany File improved to 34-3 on the year, giving up just one unearned run on five hits and one walk. She struck out eight batters in the outing. Benedictine's starter Holly Haberkorn matched File on the mound, allowing just one unearned run until the seventh inning. Haberkorn fell to 22-8 in the circle for the Eagles and finished the game with a line of 6.2 innings pitched, two runs (1 ER) on six hits, two walks and three strikeouts.
Benedictine (37-16) scored first in the top of the third as Kassee Johnson was able to come around and score from second as Emory right fielder Sam Vincent misplayed a fly ball off the bat of Kailee Cable.
Emory tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth as Forte picked up her first RBI of the contest with a triple off the right center wall, scoring Vincent all the way from first.
In the bottom of the seventh, freshman Cassie Baca doubled to left center with one out before being replaced for pinch runner Wilson. With two outs in the frame and Forte at the dish, Wilson stole third on a 1-0 count. Later in the at bat, Forte hit a flare off Haberkorn's payoff pitch into the left centerfield gap that dropped for a hit, letting Wilson plate the winning run.
Emory and Benedictine will play game two of the series tomorrow afternoon at 1:00 PM in Atlanta, GA. If necessary, a third game will be played at 3:30 PM or shortly following the first game to decide which team is headed to Salem, VA.