From Emory University Athletics

The Emory softball team opened its 2020 season Sunday afternoon with a split of a home doubleheader vs. No. 15 Birmingham Southern College. The second-ranked Eagles topped the Panthers, 8-4, in the opener before BSC bounced back to capture a 12-10 victory in the nightcap thriller that needed an extra inning to be settled.

Junior Madison Schaefer spread eight hits across her seven innings of work to toss a complete-game win in the opening tilt, allowing just one walk while striking out four. The Eagles answered the Panthers' three-run first with four runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning, as senior left fielder Greta Wilker delivered a two-run double and later scored after junior shortstop Natalie Arreguin singled to drive Wilker in. Senior third baseman Jessy McLean closed Emory's scoring in the opening frame when she came up with a clean single to plate sophomore Megan Weisenberg, who reached on a walk. A sacrifice fly from Arreguin allowed Emory to tack on another run in the third inning, before adding three more runs in the sixth to leave the Panthers with a deficit that would prove to be too much to overcome.

Senior Sarah Katz collected a pair of hits and scored two runs out of the leadoff spot for Emory, while Wilker finished with three RBI. Hitting in front of Wilker in the lineup was junior Mattie Ryan, who tripled home a run in the sixth inning, but also was patient enough at the plate to draw two walks and score two runs. Sophomore Megan Weisenberg earned the Eagles' third walk of the first game to go with her two hits and two runs scored.

The second game of the doubleheader was an exciting back-and-forth affair that saw freshman Trinity Pizzuti make her debut in the circle for Emory. She was matched up against third-team All-American pitcher/right fielder Bailey Murphy and lasted seven innings. Murphy worked with extreme efficiency at times, but Wilker squared up an offering from the lefty in the second inning and smoked a two-run double, her second of the day. The Eagles would again get to Murphy in the fourth inning, scoring four runs on three hits. Pizzuti occasionally struggled with her command in her first collegiate start, totaling seven walks, which helped the Panthers score runs in four consecutive innings from the third inning to the sixth.

However, Emory showed resilience in the bottom of the seventh. Trailing by four runs in the final frame, the Eagles managed to load the bases before recording an out as Murphy seemed to lose control of her pitches. The senior hit Weisenberg with a pitch and walked both Arreguin and McLean, setting the stage for what turned into a four-run inning. Junior Allie Moberg singled through the left side to push Weisenberg across the plate and make the game 10-7. Then, Katz ripped a double down the left field line to clear the bases, tying the game up at 10-10 and sending the game to an extra inning.

Schaefer relieved Pizzuti in the top half of the eighth, but surrendered two runs, one of which was earned, to take the loss. Emory was unable to replicate the magic of the previous inning and fell to the Panthers, 12-10.

Katz was again a catalyst for her team in the second game of the day, finishing with a pair of hits, four RBI, and a run scored. Wilker, Moberg, and senior Sami Feller each totaled two hits and two RBI for the Eagles in the concluding game.