ST. DAVIDS, Pa.- Coming into the final series of the year, Eastern University Baseball (17-17, 6-13 Freedom) needed to sweep Delaware Valley College to stay alive in the Freedom Conference Playoff Race. Eastern scored in each of the first three innings to take a 3-0 lead, but the visiting Aggies scored eight times in the next four innings. The Eagles brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth before falling 8-5.

Eastern starter Ernie Stiegler was on early. The senior right-hander did not allow a baserunner in the first ten hitters he faced. 

The Eagles saw several opportunities for big innings go by the wayside as Delaware Valley starter Jim Calabrese and the Aggie defense kept the Eagles to single runs in each of the first three innings. Delaware Valley escaped the second with a double-play and caught a runner stealing in the third.

After the Aggies scored in the fourth, the Eagles had first-and-third with nobody out. The big inning never materialized as Calabrese picked off Dillon Schwartzer at first and a ground ball to the drawn in infield killed the rally.  The Aggies scored four times without the benefit of an extra base hit in the fifth.

Second baseman Brendan Spall made a tremendous catch on a short fly ball to right to save a run in the top of the sixth, but the Eagles could not get anything going in the bottom half after Stephen Valentine walked to lead off. Devon Ziegenfuss puulled the first pitch of his at bat over the left field fence only a few feet foul, but nothing more came of the at bat.

The Aggies picked up their final three runs in the game in the seventh on four singles and an error. The last run of the inning came on a tight play at first on what turned into an infield hit.

After the first two Eastern hitters made outs in the seventh, Tyler Orr doubled to the fence in left center. Greg DeSarro picked up his third hit and second RBI of the game with a double to nearly the same spot. Anthony Messina picked up the third straight hit to drive in DeSarro.

Korey McCormack pitched through the eighth without allowing a run, and Ben Melendez entered after McCormick walked the leadoff hitter in the ninth. The Aggies moved the runner to third with a steal and a sacrifice, but Melendez got a ground ball to third and Ryan McMenamin made a sharp play to grab the bouncer and apply the tag to help get out of the jam.

DeSarro and Messina walked after two were out in the ninth, but Delaware Valley reliever Chris Kelly struck out Mark Royer to end the game. DeSarro finished 3-for-4 and now has 49 hits this season. He is eight hits shy of Eastern's career record with two games to play.He is one RBI from tying Jordan Nyce for the second spot on Eastern's career list for RBIs.

The Eagles can secure a winning record on the season with a pair of wins at Delaware Valley tomorrow. Eastern still has a chance to win its fourth league series of the year.