The Benedictine University Mesa softball team showed grit, pressure on the bases, and several standout individual performances across two tightly contested games, but Embry-Riddle used a handful of late-inning swings and key defensive moments to edge out the Redhawks in both games of Friday's doubleheader.

GAME 1: Embry-Riddle 7, Benedictine Mesa 4 (8 innings)
Benedictine matched Embry-Riddle punch-for-punch early, opening the game with immediate traffic on the bases. Annaleia Jenkins' leadoff single set the tone, and after a hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice bunt, Jasleen Calderon lifted a sacrifice fly to center to bring home Jenkins and tie the game 1–1 in the first.

The Redhawks kept the pressure coming in the second. After Chloe Wright walked and Alexandra Lopez reached on an error, Emma Tufnell lined a single to right to load the bases. Jacquelyn Morales then grounded out to second to drive in the go-ahead run and give Benedictine a 2–1 lead.

In the third, the Redhawks delivered another productive inning. Calderon singled, and moments later, Leiana Madrazo ripped a single and circled the bases after an error on the play, bringing home the tying run. Chloe Wright followed with an RBI single to extend the lead to 4–1.

Embry-Riddle chipped away, but Benedictine held the Eagles scoreless through four straight innings — thanks to steady defense and clean work from the pitching staff. The Redhawks continued threatening with baserunners, but Embry-Riddle minimized damage to keep the margin close.

Leiana Madrazo added to her huge day in the fifth, tripling to right field and scoring moments later on a passed ball for a 5–1 Redhawks advantage. But Embry-Riddle responded in the sixth, taking advantage of a pair of hits and a passed ball to score four runs, tying the game 5–5.

The Redhawks put the potential winning run on base in both the sixth and seventh but couldn't break through, and the game moved into extras.

In the top of the eighth, Embry-Riddle pushed across one to take a 6–5 lead. Benedictine advanced the tying run to third in the bottom half, but the Eagles held on, handing the Redhawks a tough extra-inning loss.

GAME 2: Embry-Riddle 2, Benedictine Mesa 0
Game 2 turned into a classic pitchers' duel, with both defenses shining throughout.

The Redhawks' offense produced consistent opportunities, especially thanks to strong speed and baserunning. Leiana Madrazo sparked the second inning with a walk and proceeded to steal second and take third on the throw, putting Benedictine in immediate scoring position — but a sharp groundout ended the threat.

Jenaly Gabriel provided another chance in the third with a single and a stolen base, but ERAU escaped again.

Benedictine recorded hits from Mackenzie Larson and Chloe Wright in the fourth and Jasleen Calderon in the seventh, but each time the Eagles' defense closed the door.

Defensively, the Redhawks were sharp, allowing just one hit through the first four innings and keeping Embry-Riddle off balance. But ERAU finally broke through in the sixth: a leadoff double, followed by a single and a fielder's choice, produced what would become the only run they needed.

Calderon singled to start the seventh, and Negasse Williams came in to pinch-run, but the rally ended as ERAU converted a fielder's choice and a groundout to seal the narrow win.