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After surrendering a first inning run to the Trinity Lady Bulldogs Monday afternoon, Embler got to work and her teammates followed suit as the Eagles rallied for a 3-1 victory.
“I had a few pitches going for me plus my defense was behind me,” Embler said. “I knew that they were back there.”
Trinity struck first, scoring a run off a pair of hits. Amber Pearman led off with a sharp single that just got by Brittney Smith at second. Brianna Allred followed with a grounder that seemed destined for a double play, but East shortstop Nicole Welborn airmailed the toss to first, giving the Bulldogs a runner in scoring position. A batter later, Haley Hicks ripped a long double, plating Allred.
The Lady Eagles didn’t trail long, however, as Taylor Vance got the offense started with a lead-off double in the second inning. Vance moved to third via a groundout and came home on a wild pitch from Trinity starter Brittany Donathan, tying the game at one.
Both pitchers began posting zeroes during the middle innings. EDHS nearly broke through in the fourth after a pair of walks put a runner in scoring position, but Kristin White bounced out to second, stranding a pair. Scout Albertson led off the home half of the fourth with an infield single only to stay at first once Embler retired the next three.
“Trinity has a good ball team, they really do,” said EDHS coach Greg Fowler. “I was real pleased to see us settle down after the first inning, and getting that run back early was big. Spencer pitched well and our defense was solid from the third inning on. It’s still early in the year for all of us. We are lucky to come over here and get one.”
Extra innings seemed imminent until the Lady Golden Eagles finally broke through in the sixth. Welborn led off with a single, her second of the game, and Smith followed with a walk, positioning East to take its first lead of the game. A wild pitch advanced both runners 60 feet, allowing Embler to help her own cause with a sacrifice fly, scoring Welborn. The lead could’ve been more had Trinity center-fielder Amber Pearman not made a diving catch that temporarily saved a run. Smith took advantage of the situation and went to third where Vance drove her in with another sac fly, giving the Lady Golden Eagles a more comfortable two-run lead.
“When you have that extra run we were able to get, you are able to relax a little bit,” Fowler said. “You don’t have to pitch quite the same and you can play your defense a little different.”
The Lady Bulldogs gave Embler a scare in the bottom of the seventh after the first two runners reached via a pair of singles. Embler was unfazed by the congestion on the bases as the right-hander tallied a strike out and got Tory Butler to bounce into a 5-4 double play, ending the threat and the game.
“I was nervous,” said Embler. “I was actually shaking. I was just nervous though.”
Staff Writer Eliot Duke can be reached at 472-9500, ext. 233, or at eliotduke@hotmail.com.