With spring in full bloom and the days growing longer, the Emory University softball team is hitting its stride at the perfect time. As the Eagles pass the midway point of their season, they have established themselves as a formidable force within the University Athletic Association (UAA). Marked by dominant pitching, timely hitting and disciplined defense, the team has put together an impressive 20-2 record reflecting their talent and determination. As the squad enters the second half of the season, with 16 games left, the Eagles look to build on their momentum and continue their pursuit of their first championship appearance since 2019.
The team began the season with seven wins in a row, including four at the Emory Classic, a tournament hosted by Emory University. At the tournament, the Eagles faced off against Buena Vista University (Iowa) twice, winning both matchups.
Just two weeks later, Emory hosted No. 17-ranked Pfeiffer University (N.C.) and St. John Fisher University (N.Y.) at the Eagles Elite Invitational. The Eagles won their matchup against Pfeiffer, but St. John Fisher handed Emory their first loss on March 7.
Freshman utility player Rylie Ballog said the team did not dwell on their mistakes after the loss, allowing them to stay focused on their next games.
“We all pick each other up in the locker room after a loss,” Ballog said. “We’ll focus on the positives and what we need to work on, so it’s not a super heavy, sad talk after the game, which helps us move forward.”
The team bounced back and beat St. John Fisher in the last game of the invitational on March 8. Junior pitcher Mackenzie Duford, who was on the mound for most of the game, credited her teammates for helping to secure the win in the rematch.
“We had lost to them before, so we were kind of down about that,” Duford said. “But then coming back on Sunday and being able to win against them … my defense had my back the whole game and then the offense was able to squeeze out that one run for us was amazing.”
During Emory’s spring break, the team traveled west to Hawaii to play at the Division III Ulili Softball Invitational, where they won all six of their games. Head coach India Chiles said the team had some challenges adjusting due to the travel, but it helped them mentally prepare for a postseason run.
“At that point of a season, everyone's body is pretty beat up and tired, and you have to find a way to bring more to the game mentally than your opponent,” Chiles said. “We got a really strong taste of that in Hawaii, and I'm really proud of our team for that.”
The team extended their winning streak to 13 when they took on Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) this past weekend, winning all three games.
With eight freshmen, eight sophomores, four juniors and no seniors, Chiles said the young team is as confident and determined as ever.
“Compared to last year, we didn’t have the confidence and the belief level that we’ve taken into this season,” Chiles said. “So the really cool thing is, we’re performing. The bats are working, our pitching is working and we know that we have more to do.”
Chiles said that despite the team's lack of seniors, the juniors are stepping up to the plate with their leadership.
“All of the upperclassmen have been mentors to me,” Ballog said. “They just provide a lot of advice about classes and what to do if you’re struggling with classes or on the softball field. They’re all there to do extra reps with you — just super supportive.”
Chiles added that the Eagles also have a chemistry that aids them tremendously in supporting each other and ultimately winning.
“The level of respect is remarkable from this group of girls,” Chiles said. “They play for each other, and whether they’re in the starting nine or on the bench, they have such a strong desire and passion for one another’s success that is very unique and very hard to get with a team where everyone really does have everyone’s best interest at heart.”
Looking ahead, Duford said the team has demonstrated the depth and resilience necessary for a deep postseason run. As the UAA Championships is just six weeks away, Chiles is focused on helping the team maintain balanced lives to keep them motivated to finish the season strong.
“It’s really just trying to make sure that I and our coaching staff see them as human beings, not just softball players,” Chiles said. “That’s how we balance it out and keep them hungry and fighting and thankful for the program that they’re in, and in return, they work really hard.”
The team will look to add three more wins to their record as Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) comes to Atlanta to take on the Eagles on April 4.
