DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A four-run fifth inning led the Embry-Riddle softball team to a 5-1 victory over No. 19 Tampa on Friday. The Eagles improve to 16-13 on the season while Tampa falls to 19-4.
 
The Eagles took a one-run lead in the first inning when Maggie Scott hit a lead-off single, was advanced on a sacrifice bunt and was knocked in on Anna Battison's two-out triple.
 
The Eagles held their 1-0 lead until the third inning when one Spartan was able to come home from third on a passed ball to knot the game at one.
 
The game remained tied until the fifth inning when the Eagles recaptured their lead, bringing in four runs. Hannah Thomas led off the inning with a single and took second on the play. Destiny Carroll was second to bat and reached first with a single, but in an attempt to tag her out, the Tampa pitcher overthrew the first baseman allowing Thomas to come home on the error and score the first of four straight runs by Embry-Riddle. A single followed by a fielder's choice loaded the bases and brought Simons to the plate. She hit a perfectly-executed sacrifice fly to bring in Carroll and advance Chester and Scott. With the Eagles up 3-1, Battison followed suit with her own sacrifice fly to score Scott. Kendall Funk singled in Chester for the final run of the inning, giving ERAU a 5-1 lead.
 
The Eagles shut down the Spartans in the final two innings, allowing only one runner on base, securing their 5-1 victory.
 
Ilona Andringa (10-6) earned her 10th win of the season allowing one run on three hits with six strikeouts. Simons closed the game giving up no runs on no hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Scott finished 3-for-4 with two runs while Battison was 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs.
 
The Eagles will face Tampa again tomorrow, March 18 at home in a doubleheader set to begin at 12 p.m.