SALEM, Va. – A seventh-inning St. Thomas comeback fell short when Emory pitcher Brittany File got the final two outs with two runners on base as the ninth-ranked Eagles defeated the 12th-ranked Tommies 3-2 in the first round of the College World Series Thursday.

The Eagles (46-6) relied on near-perfect pitching from File to maintain a 1-0 lead through the first half of the game. The sophomore threw nine strikeouts, seven of which were to St. Thomas’ (43-7) first nine batters.

Both Emory and St. Thomas allowed few runners on base in the first four innings, but the Eagles capitalized on a fourth-inning double by following it with a two-run home run by first baseman Ashley Powers, extending the team’s lead to 3-0.

The Tommies set themselves up to tie the game in the sixth inning by loading the bases with a walk and two singles. Right fielder Dana Connelly’s RBI double batted in one run, but pitcher Kierstin Anderson-Glass was caught at the plate to end the inning.

Head coach John Tschida subbed in Katie Jo Delisle at the bottom of the sixth to relieve Anderson-Glass at the mound, and she wrapped up the inning without allowing the Eagles to score again.

The Tommies, with a final chance to tie the score, walked twice and Morgan Murphy loaded the bases with a sacrifice bunt-fielder’s choice. Chase Shortly followed with a single that batted home pinch runner Jessica Eppenberger, shrinking the Tommie deficit to one.

Again, however, ambitious Tommie baserunning earned the team another out at home. After a strikeout, second baseman Megan DuPuis’ foul pop-fly to first base ended the game.

The Tommies head to the elimination game against St. John Fisher, who lost to third-ranked University of Texas-Tyler 2-0, Friday at 10 a.m. The Eagles will advance to the second round and face Texas-Tyler Friday at 5:30 p.m. The winners of both games will face each other in the national semifinals Saturday at 3 p.m.