ROME -- The Hawks split the doubleheader with NCAA DIII's No. 2-ranked team, Emory University, Thursday evening; falling in the opener 8-2, before winning the finale 1-0.

Hannah Draper, making the start at third base, put Shorter (25-15) on the board first in the second inning of Game 1 when she came in on a bases loaded walk to Niki Cook; making it a 1-0 game.

Only to have Emory (32-2) answer in the top of the third with three runs to take the lead as Janelle Turnquest delivered a 3-run homer to left field, before extending their lead in the fourth with five runs.

Shorter tacked on a final run in the fourth when Ericka Bynum scored on a groundout from Kendall Johnson for the 8-2 score.

Payton Lippert took the loss, allowing eight runs on eight hits with a strikeout and two walks through 3.2 innings of work. Kalei Kimbrell pitched the final 3.1 innings, holding the Eagles scoreless on two hits with two walks and four strikeouts.

Bynum was 3-4 in the game, while Tiffany Holland tallied a 2-2 day at the plate.

In Game 2, the Hawks scored what proved to be the game winner in the first inning when Cook came in on a single through the left side from Taylor Ann Oda.

Draper turned in the win, allowing just three hits with four strikeouts through five shutout innings. While Kimbrell recorded her fifth save of the season pitching two innings of no perfect softball with a strikeout to end the game.

Shorter finished with five players with one hit each; while Oda tallied the lone RBI of the game.

The Hawks will close out the home portion of their schedule this weekend as they welcome No. 20 Delta State to Alto Park for the three-game Gulf South Conference series. Game times are set for 1:00 and 3:00 on Saturday. With Sunday's game also set to begin at 1:00pm, and prior to first pitch Shorter will recognize its lone softball senior, Kendall Johnson.