WILKES-BARRE, Pa.—Eastern University Softball's playoff run was cut short on Saturday afternoon. The Eagles, who were returning to the Freedom Conference Tournament for the first time since 2012, finished third place in the conference after falling to Misericordia University 6-3.

The Eagles had beaten Misericordia in walk-off fashion the night before, but couldn't recreate the magic in the second day of the double-elimination tournament.

Eastern out-hit Misericordia 10-6, but left 13 runners on base. Eastern loaded the bases in the first, third, sixth and seventh innings but was unsuccessful in bringing a run home in any of those innings.

Center fielder Ashton Tomlinson led the Eagles at the plate with a 3-for-4 day and a run batted in. Erica Pyla-Gibson, Karlee Kerchersky and Deanna Laughman all went 2-for-4. Senior Emily Houck collected the team's other hit and scored a run as well.

The Eagles bunted a runner into scoring position in the bottom of the first, and then that runner, Kelsey Clever scored on a play with two errors.

Misericordia scored four runs in the next frame on a two-out grand slam by Melissa Parker. The grand slam proved to be the difference as Misericordia would only score two other runs in the game. Those were off a home run as well, a two-run blast by Megan Hardy in the top of the fifth.

Eastern scored a run in the fourth after Tomlinson batted in Pyla-Gibson who had just tripled. The Eagles then added a run in the sixth on a sac fly hit by Clever that plated Houck.

Eastern closes out the season with a 16-19 record and a third-place finish in the conference. The Eagles will have to adjust to losing a senior for the first time in three seasons as three-year captain Emily Houck moves on with graduation. With a strong core of returning talented young players, the Eagles are looking toward another strong season next year.

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