From Emory University Athletics
The Emory softball team capped off its opening weekend of University Athletic Association in fine fashion on Saturday with its second straight doubleheader sweep of Case Western Reserve University. The Eagles captured the opener by a 7-1 count before coming away with a 4-3 triumph in the nightcap. Emory now owns an overall slate of 13-7 (4-0 UAA) while the Spartans slipped to 13-6 overall (0-4 UAA).
Emory broke a 2-2 deadlock in the bottom of the fifth inning in the second game, thanks to some heads-up base running by center fielder Sarah Flanders and Jenna Wilson. Flanders started the frame with a walk and then scampered around to third after an infield single by Wilson and subsequent throwing error by a Spartans' infielder. Wilson, then stole second and moved to third when Flanders' dash home just beat the throw. Wilson later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Cassie Baca.
The Spartans cut into Emory's advantage in its half of the sixth when it scored once, and threatened in the final inning, but the Eagles held behind the pitching of freshman Jacqueline Spizizen held off the comeback bid. Spizizen earned her second win of the day and eighth of the season against four setbacks after throwing three innings of relief, allowing one run and two hits while fanning three. Baca finished with three ribbies, stroking a pair of sac flies and driving in the team's first run with a double.
The Eagles racked up 11 hits in the first game, highlighted by a 3-for-3 effort by sophomore Greta Wilker, who also scored twice and knocked in a pair of runs. A sacrifice fly by sophomore Jessy McLean plated Wilker with the Eagles' first tally in the bottom of the second while a single by sophomore Sami Feller the next frame scored Baca, extending the Eagles' edge to 2-0. A four-run outburst in the bottom of the fourth, keyed by two-run single by Wilker, boosted Emory to a 6-0 cushion and allowed the pitching tandem of Spizizen and senior Audrey Weller plenty of breathing room. Spizizen started and hurled the first five innings, striking out six and surrendering three hits, with Weller going the final two frames.