From Emory University Athletics
The Emory softball team played its final non-conference games of the regular season on Wednesday evening, splitting a doubleheader at Georgia Gwinnett College. The Eagles captured the opener by a 3-2 margin, snapping the Grizzlies 26-game winning streak, before coming out on the short end of an eight-inning, 2-1 outcome in the nightcap. Emory now stands 24-10 while GGC, the No. 1-ranked program in the NAIA ranks, posts a 46-3 ledger.
In the opening game, a two-out single by outfielder Sarah Flanders in the top of the sixth scored senior Janelle Turnquest from second base, breaking a 2-2 deadlock. Emory got on the board in the first frame when freshman Allie Moberg delivered a run-producing single that scored sophomore Sarah Katz. The Grizzlies responded with a pair of runs in their half of the frame before the Eagles knotted the score in the third when sophomore Jessy McLean scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of Turnquest. GGC threatened in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with one out, but Emory freshman hurler Jacqueline Spizizen got out of the jam by inducing a short fly ball to left field followed by a pop up to third, as she registered her 15th win of the year in 20 decisions.
In the nightcap, Emory saw the Grizzlies take a 1-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Elyssa Melton hit a line shot that glanced off Emory starter Toko Miller, scoring Holly Janco from third. In the Eagles' half of the sixth, Katz and McLean opened with back-to-back singles. After a sacrifice by Moberg moved the runners up a base, a ground out by Greta Wilker scored pinch runner Drew Bullock. With the international tie breaker rule implemented, Emory had runners at second and third with one out, but couldn't push a run across while GGC answered in its half of the inning, using a two-out single by Niki Cook to score Anya Vandersip with the deciding run. Freshman Madison Schaefer, who came on in relief for Miller in the fifth, took the loss, though she kept the high-scoring Grizzlies in check, allowing one run and five hits over 3 2/3 innings. McLean collected three of the Eagles' eight hits while junior Jenna Wilson and Katz each reached base safely twice.