When the Eastern University baseball fell behind by 16 runs after three and a half innings, it looked as though their final home game against Misericordia was going to lack drama. Nothing, however, could be further from the truth. The Eagles used a pair of big innings to whittle away away at the Cougar lead and got strong innings from relievers Andy Smith and Dave Hopkins to pull within three after seven innings before falling 27-15 in a four-hour marathon.

The Eagles scored seven times in the bottom of the fourth inning to trim the Misericordia advantage to 16-7. Ryan Polk started the inning with his first of three doubles on the afternoon. Phil Clark ripped the next pitch to left center for a double of his own. Jim Crowley lined a sharp single to put runners on the corners with none away. The Eagles then started to walk four straight Eastern batters took their free pass before Andrew Reynolds lifted a long fly ball to center to drive in Scott Renauro. Polk hit another shot to left center that skidded under the fence for a ground-rule double to drive in a run. The final run of the inning scored on an error, and the Eagles started to show some signs of life.

Martin pitched an efficient fifth inning, and the Eagles mounted another threat in the bottom of the fifth, but Reynolds' line drive found the center fielder's glove to end the inning with the bases loaded. The first two Cougars reached in the top of the sixth as Brandon Calafut doubled and Jeff Slanovec walked. First year assistant Mike Santello visited Smith on the mound, and his words seemed to make a world of difference as the sophomore right-hander settled in and induced a pair of pop-ups and a weak ground ball to third to end the Misericordia threat.

The Eagles, buoyed by the sudden influx of momentum, picked up two more runs right away in the bottom of the sixth. Polk led off with his third hit of the afternoon and Clark brought him home with a long drive over the left center field fence.

The game went to the top of the seventh with the Cougars leading 16-9. Misericordia put the first two runners on in the top of seventh, and Eastern skipper Matt Midkiff went to the bullpen for freshman southpaw Dave Hopkins. Hopkins gave up a single to th first batter he saw, and found himself in a bases loaded jam. With the infield in, Hopkins got the ground ball he sought. Reynolds scooped the grounder clean at second base and fired home for the single out. Hopkins induced a soft grounder back to the pitcher to the next batter, and he was able to get the force at the plate. Ramon Reyes throw for the double play got away and two runs scored. Hopkins then closed out the inning without further damage. Midkiff was pleased with the work by his freshman. He said, "He made the pitches he needed to make to get out of a tough spot. It would have been huge to get out of that with no runs, but his response after the error was good."

Eastern battled for six more runs immediately following the stretch. Renauro doubled to start the action, and Kurt Kebaugh battled through a great at bat to single. The junior DH fouled off a whole series of pitches before driving a low line drive up the middle to move Renauro along. Ramon Reyes advanced the runners with a long fly and Reynolds drove home a pair of runs with a solid double. Polk stayed back on an outside pitch and lifted a slicing liner just inside the right field line for his third two-base hit of the day o drive in the third run of the inning. The Eagles scored three more times on errors. 

With the Eastern bullpen fully taxed from a tough weeek of work, Hopkins went back out for another inning in the eighth. Up 18-15, the Cougars again loaded the bases with no one out. Hopkins. Robert Albertson lifted a fly to right. Mike D'Amara hit a ball that looked bound for right field that Reynolds snared. The only senior position player made a snap decision to throw backagainst his momentum to turn two. His flip to Renauro was perfect and the freshman short stop saved a run with a strong and on- target throw to complete the double play. Midkiff later remarked that the play by Reynolds on senior day, was probably the best fielding play the Eagles have made all year.

Down 19-15, the Eagles loaded the bases in the eighth but could not score. Reynolds fueled the rally with his second double of the afternoon, but the Eagles were unable to cut into the lead. The ninth inning looked a little bit like a replay of the first, as the Eagles ran out of pitchers and the Cougars scored eight runs with just two hits.

Polk and Mike Murphy, his opposite number on the Misericordia team, finished with four hits on the day. Murphy, who set the Misericordia single-season hit mark, reached base in all eight plate appearances.  D'Amara finished with five hits.

The three hours and forty eight minutes it took to play the game represents the longest game of the year for the Eagles. The lengthy game gave opportunity for comparisons for what could be done in that amount of time. Some thoughts. One could: drive from St. Davids to New York City and watch a Broadway musical. Run a marathon at 8:30 pace.  Watch the entire first season of The Office--twice. Or clear security at the Philadelphia airport. 

The Eagles end their season with a doubleheader at King's tomorrow. Misericordia, who kept their play off hopes alive with the win today, will have to travel to Manhattanville to end their season tomorrow.