The Eastern University softball team battled through a spring chill to earn a split against Freedom Conference foe FDU-Florham, on Saturday afternoon. A late inning rally by the Devils gave them the edge in the first game, 9-2. However, an eighth inning two-run blast by Maggie McGowan gave the Eagles a 9-8 win and the split.

The Eagles drew first blood against the Devils in the bottom of the second. Janelle Fair led off the inning with a single. Molly Oberholzer moved Fair up to second on a fielders choice. After a fly out to right by Jaclyn Gangemi, Fair and Oberholzer moved themselves to second and third respectively on an FDU passed ball. Jaime Schwartz then ripped a hard ground ball into the hole at short. Fair came around to score on the play.

The game remained silent offensively until the top of the sixth inning. FDU's Ronica Sorice knocked in the go ahead runs with a single. Michele Morongell single handedly tied the game for Eastern with a solo shot to left center, evening the score 2-2.

FDU took advantage of a couple early infield singles and put together a seven run seventh. Megan McInaw delivered the big blow with a two-run double. as the Devils scored seven runs on seven hits, putting the game out of reach.

Eastern head coach, Brittany Stroop commented on the inning saying, "They hit the ball well as the inning progressed, but we did not make some of the plays in the field that could have helped us out of the inning."

The second game was much different as both teams traded a handful of runs early. The visitors jumped to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first on a three-run homer by McInaw that nearly cleared the scoreboard in left-center. The Eagles countered brilliantly scoring four runs of their own in the bottom of the first. McGowan, Fair, Gangemi and Schwartz each had RBI hits in the inning.

The offenses remained quiet again until the top of the fifth. FDU tacked on two runs on three hits. Eastern once again countered the Devils, flexing a little offensive muscle of their own. The Eagles were able to load the bases on a walk, single and fielders choice. Samantha Terenzoni jumped at the opportunity, drilling a bases clearing double to right centerfield.

FDU refused to go down without a fight. The visitors tied the game on a two-run homerun by Megan Boyle. Eastern was unable to make the most of three hits in the bottom of the seventh and the game headed into extra innings.

The Devils once again put the pressure on the Eagles to perform as they picked up a run on two hits and made the most of an Eastern error, making the game 8-7. 

It was Eastern, however who struck the final blow. Morongell lead off the bottom of the eighth with double. A few pitches later, McGowan put the game away for good for the Eagles. The sophomore short stop drilled a monster homerun to right centerfield giving Eastern the 9-8 win.

Eastern will host Alvernia University at home on Wednesday afternoon at 3:00 PM before they travel to Wilkes University next Saturday.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score