WILKES-BARRE, Pa.—Eastern University Softball, back in the Freedom Conference Tournament for the first time since 2012, had both of its games on Friday decided by one run. Eastern walked-off with the 7-6 win over the Misericordia University Cougars in the bottom of the 10th inning after sophomore center fielder Ashton Tomlinson doubled to knock in the winning run. In the second game of the day, Eastern fell to top-seeded DeSales University 3-2. The Eagles thought they had scored the game-tying run in the top of the sixth, but the run was erased on a runner interference call.
Eastern jumped to a 6-0 lead in the first inning, capitalizing on six hits and two Misericordia errors. Erica Pyla-Gibson led off the game with a double to left field, moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt and then scored on a passed ball. Kasey Williams doubled and then moved to third on a wild pitch, and Emily Houck punched a double to left center to score Williams. Pyla-Gibson, Williams and Houck all notched two hits on the day.
Eagles' pitcher Haleigh Williams mowed down the Cougars in the top of the second, one-two-three, and then the Eagles' bats broke the game open in the bottom of the inning. With two outs, Deanna Laughman kept the inning going and turned the lineup card over with a single to center. Pyla-Gibson tripled to score Laughman and then scored on a sloppy play that allowed Kasey Williams to reach third. Tomlinson, who had walked, also scored on the play. Houck picked up her second hit and knocked in Williams to up Eastern's lead to 6-0.
The Eagles appeared to be on a good pace to defeat the Cougars in five innings via the eight-run mercy rule. Eastern chased Misericordia's starting pitcher from the circle, and the Cougars brought in Bailee Schies to pitch. Schies, who was fourth on the Cougars' roster in innings pitched this season (21 innings), kept the Eagles scoreless for the next seven innings. The Eagles had the two potential game-winning runs on base with two outs in the fifth, but couldn't bring the run home.
Misericordia reset the ballgame with six-runs in the top of the sixth inning on just two hits. Haleigh Williams took the no decision after 5.1 innings pitched. Williams only allowed four hits. Alyssa Welsh took the ball in the middle of the sixth and went 4.2 innings with four strikeouts, no walks and two hits allowed.
The Eagles had their best chance for a walkoff in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with two outs, but the Eagles weren't able to bring the run home.
After scoreless eighth and ninth innings, Welsh retired the Cougars in order in the top of the 10th. Freshman third baseman Deanna Laughman led off the inning with a walk and then took second on a slapped groundout by Pyla-Gibson. With a runner in scoring position now, Tomlinson drove the second pitch of the at-bat into the outfield. Laughman raced home for the winning run into the out-stretched arms of her teammates.
Eastern out-hit DeSales 9-5, but left 10 runners on base. Tomlinson and Karlee Kerchersky each had two hits. Shortstop Kelsey Clever batted in both Eastern runs.
The DeSales Bulldogs tallied two runs in the bottom of the first on two hits and the Eagles finally matched those runs in the top of the fourth. Houck and Kerchersky beat out infield singles and then both scored on a double down the left-field line by Clever. The Bulldogs regained the lead in the bottom of the inning, scoring a run on a bases-loaded groundout.
Eastern missed an opportunity in the fifth, getting to Bulldogs' pitcher DJ McCauley by loading the bases with no outs. However, the Eagles failed to bring home. McCauley through a complete game with five strikeouts in her what is her 10th win this season. In the sixth inning, the Eagles had the potential tying-run on second with two outs and Pyla-Gibson at the plate. Pyla-Gibson ripped a hit straight back to the circle that ricocheted off the pitcher's body and past the shortstop. Kristen Waters scored from second on the play to momentarily even the score at 3-3. But, the score did not stay tied for long. DeSales appealed the play, citing section 12.8.5 Note 1 in the rule book, and the run was taken off the board as Waters was called out for runner's interference.
With that being the third out of the inning, the Eagles had one last chance in the seventh. The Eagles placed two runners on, but couldn't bring the tying run home.
After splitting Friday in the double-elimination tournament, Eastern will have to play Misericordia again at 11 a.m. on Saturday. If the Eagles win that game, they will then have to beat DeSales twice in a row Saturday afternoon to win the championship.
