TUCSON, Ariz.—Eastern University Softball opened the 2015 season on a beautiful Arizona Sunday morning with a doubleheader against the Siena Heights University Saints.
The Saints edged the Eagles 4-3 in game one and then topped them 6-1 in the second game of the twin-billing. Megan Jones and Taylor Hayes both homered for the Saints in both games. Hayes' two-run home run in the fifth inning of the first game was disputed by the Eagles. The ball ended up over the short flexible fence in center field, but Eastern maintained that the ball ended up over the fence on a hop and not in the air. However, the infield umpire upheld the call as a four-bagger.
Eastern sophomore Alyssa Welsh pitched five innings and ended up with a no-decision. She cruised through the first inning, recording all three outs on her own by striking out the first and third batters and inducing a pop-up to the circle from the second batter. Welsh struck out eight batters and was tagged with three runs, Jones' solo home run and Hayes' two-RBI homer.
Neither team scored in the first three innings. After Siena Heights went up 1-0 in the top of the fourth, Eastern did some damage with three base hits in-a-row and moved into a 2-1 lead. Melinda Kreimer singled with two-outs to keep the inning alive. Karlee Kerchersky then slapped a ground-rule double over the fence in center field. Erica Pyla-Gibson then launched a double to the outfield that scored Kreimer's pinch runner Jackie Digiacomo and Kerchersky as well.
The Saints scored the controversial two-run jack in the fifth to go ahead 3-2, but Eastern knotted the game in the bottom of the inning. Kristen Waters legged out a triple and freshman Deanna Laughman earned her first collegiate RBI by batting her in with a sacrifice fly.
The Saints, who had only scored via the long ball used small ball to score the go-ahead run. Leading off in the sixth Hannah Bleikamp walked, stole second and then advanced to third on an error. Bleikamp later scored on an RBI-groundout.
The Eagles went down in order in the bottom of the sixth and then had two runners aboard in the seventh but were unable to bring them home.
In game two, the Eagles' bats were kept in check by Siena Heights pitcher Kelsie Abbott who recorded nine strikeouts. The Eagles managed four hits and scored their only run of the game in the fourth inning on an infield error off a ball hit by Pyla-Gibson. Kasey Williams scored from third on the play with two outs. She had doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a passed ball.
Pyla-Gibson started the game for the Eagles and went 2.1 innings in the loss. The Saints picked up two runs in the first inning and then three more in the third. Haleigh Williams entered in relief and struck out six in 3.2 innings.
Eastern (0-2) continues spring break play at noon local time Monday with a single game against Northwestern College.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
Instagram Video Clip of the Scenic Field
