Eastern University Baseball recovered from a tough loss in the first game with a 16-0 rout in the second to earn a doubleheader split with Baptist Bible College. David Hopkins went the distance for the seven inning shutout in the second game.

The Defenders opened the scoring with two runs on three hits in the first inning. Eastern starter Andy Smith got out of the inning with the help of crisp 6-4-3 double play and settled into the rhythm of the game.

The Eagles stole a run back with a pair of hits in the bottom of the third. Scott Renauro pushed Jim Crowley across with a ground ball to third, and the Eagles went into the fourth down just one run. Smith set the defenders down in order in the fourth, but Eastern could not get an attack going in their half of the inning.

Game one turned in the fifth inning. Brandon Isenhart tripled to deep left center to lead off the top of the inning. Smith looked liked he was going to get out of the jam when he induced a ground ball to a drawn in infield and a pop out to second base to get to the first two outs. Ken Kirby then flipped a high slicing line drive that landed just inches fair and inches out of reach of the Eastern right fielder for a run-scoring triple. Baptist Bible seized the opportunity and scored three more runs for a 6-1 lead.

The Eagles refused to go away as Jim Crowley and Andrew Reynolds singled to start the bottom of the inning, and Renauro connected for his first career home run to cut the gap to 6-4. The Eagles were unable to build the rally further and the game went to the sixth.

Nolan Potter set down the visitors in the sixth and seventh, but the Eagles could only manage a single run on a Ramon Reyes single in the seventh. 

The Eagles scored single tallies in the first two innings and took command of the game with a five run third. Renauro started the rally with a one-out triple and Reyes sliced a double down the line to drive him home. Ben Jones doubled home a run and Chris Dole drove in another pair with a double.

Ryan Polk, who would finish game two 3-4 with 3 RBI, doubled home a run in the three run fourth. The Eagles put together another big inning in the seventh, but they had all the offense they needed early as Hopkins kept the guests off balance and allowed just four hits.

Eastern Head Coach Matt Midkiff was frustrated with his team's execution in the opener, saying, "We really needed to win a pair today. We gave away too many at bats and did not make the plays we needed to make on the bases and in the field. Dave pitched really well in the second game and we were much better at the plate, but we are frustrated with letting the first one get away."

The Eagles return to action tomorrow afternoon at Ursinus College.

Box Score Game 1

Box Score Game 2