five game weekend 3-2 and earned their first series sweep in recent history. With the five games and a limited number of pitchers, the Eastern coaching staff knew that they would need quality outings from their starters, and every Eastern starter lasted over six innings. Kenny Long and John Kaklowski each went the distance in Sunday's double-header.

Kenny Long held the Knights scoreless through the first five innings and gave up just a single earned run as he earned his first win of the year. Davis Murray got the Eagles off to a quick start after a ringing two-out single to left in the bottom of the first. Murray stole second, and scampered to third when the throw flew into center field, and home when the throw from center flew out of play. It looked like runs would come easily in game one, but the one can never be certain of anything on April Fool's Day.

Neither offense was able to generate anything until the top of the fifth, when the Knight's took advantage of a one-out error and a ground ball to the right side of the infield to put a runner on third base. Kevin Lengyel hit a single to center to tie the game at one. Long forced a ground ball to limit the damage and end the inning.

Mike Santello drew a one out walk in the bottom of the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball. Murray then sliced a ball down the right field line to plate Santello and put the Eagles up 2-1.

The Knights, however, were not through. After a one out walk, Nicholas Longmore cracked a long RBI double to right center. Long once shut down the rally with a strike out and a weak grounder back to the mound.

With the game tied at two going into the bottom of the sixth, the Eastern offense needed to get something from the bottom half of their order. John Montague crushed a long fly ball to right center for the first out of the inning. Dan Wilson reached on an error, and advanced to second when Nolan Potter grounded out. Freshman leftfielder Kurt Kebaugh, batting in the eight spot in the order then turned on an inside pitch and ripped it just fair down the left field line for the decisive third run of the game. Long closed out the game facing just four batters in the top of the seventh.

Eastern needed to come from behind to win in game two. Kaklowski gave up a pair of runs in the top of the second, but that was all the big right-hander would allow.

The Eagles chipped away at the deficit with a single tally in the bottom of the third when Kebaugh reached on an error and Santello singled. Murray earned the RBI with a ground ball to short.

Kaklowski seemed to gain momentum as the game advanced, and faced just 14 batters over the final four innings. He got help behind him as left fielders Kebaugh and Matt Powell each made sparkling diving catches to keep the Knights off base.

The Eagles scored four times in the bottom of the fifth to take the lead for good. Kebaugh started the rally with a one out single. Santello then singled and took second on the throw to third that the hustling Kebaugh beat out. Kenny Long then knotted the game with a single. Murray unknotted the game with an RBI single. Sean Ciletti then walked. John Montague then came to the plate with the bases full and two out. The designated hitter cracked a two RBI single to break the game open for the Eagles.

Powell and Kebaugh singled to start the Eastern sixth, and Long knocked in two more insurance runs to give the Eagles the sweep. The Eastern coaching staff knew that this weekend would be a stiff test for their young squad, and were very pleased with the contributions of the entire line-up in the success of the weekend.

The Eagles return to action Tuesday with a non-conference game at Catholic.

Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box