ST. DAVIDS, Pa.- Eastern University Baseball scored six two-out runs in the sixth inning to grab a 9-5 lead on the way to a 9-6 home win over the visiting Owls of the University of Maine-Presque Isle. Shortstop Ryan McMenamin was the offensive star with a 3-for-4 day.

The Owls took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a one-RBI double from Carlos Villoria. Eastern starter Austin Little then settled in and held the visitors without another run in the next two innings. Little, on a pitch count in the midweek game, struck out two in three innings of work. 

The Eagles had two on in the second, but Andrew DiFerdinando's line drive turned into an inning-ending double-play. McMenamin dropped a perfect bunt single to start the third. He then stole second, but the Eagles were unable to move the speedy sophomore around.

The Eastern offense finally scratched in the fourth inning. With Greg DeSarro on second, Spall pulled a ground ball through a perfect spot in the left side of the infield to drive in the tying run. Andrew DiFerdinando then doubled to the fence in center to drive in Spall. DiFerdinando was thrown out at third to end the inning. 

UMPI answered with a single run off reliever Barry Jost in the fifth. The Owls had three consecutive two-out hits to score the run. 

McMenamin pulled a 1-2 pitch down the first base line for a lead-off double. Tyler Orr walked and Eric Rossi delivered an RBI single to center. Orr was gunned down at third for the second out of the inning, but Rossi moved into scoring position on the throw. The rally ended on fly ball to deep left by DeSarro.

Jost gave way to Jordan Miller for the sixth inning. The freshman reliever ran into trouble early as Logan McGloughlin homered to center and the next three batters reached safely. The third run of the inning came on a well-turned double-play by Spall and McMenamin. 

Down 5-3, the Eagles looked to be in some trouble when the first two hitters in the sixth inning went quietly. Spall started the rally with a double to the fence in center field. DiFerdinando singled him in and moved to second on McMenamin's third hit of the day Angelo Kelly then slapped a single to left to drive in DiFerdinando. Tyler Orr then lifted his fourth double of the year to the fence in center to drive home two. After Orr scored on an error, DeSarro drove in the final Eastern run of the afternoon with a ground-rule double. 

DeSarro finished 2-for-4 on the afternoon. The senior catcher now has 133 career hits. He is in the fifth spot on the Eastern career list.

Ryan Ellison came on in relief and retired five hitters to pick up the win. Ellison got some defensive help after the first two batters reached in the seventh. After an infield fly to Mrk Royer at third. Spall made a diving stop on a sinking line drive in short center field. He popped to his feet and beat the runner to second base for an inning-ending double-play.  Ellison retired two hitters in the eighth before giving way to Drew Shaw with a man on base. The senior left-hander and Villoria battled for eight pitches. The Presque-Isle first baseman made good contact, but Tyler Orr had room in center to finish the inning. 

The Owls loaded the bases and scored a run with only one out in the ninth when Eastern head coach Jed Morris went to Greg Lukasik to try to escape a jam. Lukasik, in his first appearance of the year, struck out the first batter he faced and retired the final batter of the contest on a ground ball to shortstop to earn the save. 

The Eagles (7-10) travel to King's College for an important Freedom Conference contest on Friday. Those same two teams will play a doubleheader at Eastern on Saturday afternoon.

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