Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 FORT PIERCE, Fla. – Eastern Baseball dropped two straight games on Friday afternoon falling to Elizabethtown College 12-2 and the University of Northwestern (Mn.) 5-2. Both teams jumped out to early multiple run leads and never relinquished them cruising to victories.  

"Just an overall tough day," said Head Coach Jed Morris. "We didn't execute well in either game, and it led to two losses."

Elizabethtown (4-2) used a seven-run fourth inning to claim the win. Already leading 2-0 the Blue Jays got three of their first four batters on in the top of the fourth loading the bases with only one out. Richy Masciraelli then earned a walk to walk in a run extending the lead to 3-0. After another walk scored yet another run a fielding error, one batter later, led to three runs coming home stretching the lead to 7-0. A single later in the inning by Aaron Rahn extended Elizabethtown's lead to 9-0.

The Blue Jays scored three more runs in the top of fifth stretching their lead to 12-0. Elizabethtown loaded the bases with the first three batters before a passed ball scored one run making it 10-0. A sacrifice fly two batters later scored another run and a double by the very next batter plated another run to make it 12-0.

"We can't let a team jump out to such an early lead and jump all over us like that," continued Morris. "Take nothing away from them they played a great game, but we have to do a better job of limiting the damage when we get into tough spots."

Eastern (1-5) finally got on the board in the bottom of the eighth inning. Angelo Kelly and Andrew Check both reached base safely to give Eastern runners on first and second with no outs. Andrew Boykin then singled two batters to load the bases for Jake Bunjo. Bunjo singled to right field driving in both Kelly and Check to make the score final at 12-2.

In the second game against the Univeristy of Northwestern (Mn.) (1-2), the Eagles jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and never looked back. UNW scored twice in the bottom half of the first inning. A leadoff single and a fielding error two batters later gave UNW runners on first and third. A wild pitch scored the opening run of the game for the Eagles. A single one batter later plated the second run.

Eastern battled back to cut the deficit to one in the top of the sixth. Connor Beaudoin singled giving the Eagles a much-needed baserunner. Kelly doubled two batters later scoring Beaudoin and making the score 2-1. That was as close as Eastern would get as UNW scored two runs in the bottom of the inning to stretch its lead to 4-1.

A leadoff double by Ryan Sutterer gave UNW a runner in scoring position. After advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt, Sutterer scored on a wild pitch stretching the lead to 3-1. A single three batters later plated the fourth run of the game for the Eagles.

A run in the bottom of the eighth stretched UNW's lead to 5-1. Eastern, however, was able to make the game interesting in the top of the ninth. Craig Stanley and Kelly both reached base safely top open the inning. Check hit into a fielder's choice advancing Kelly to give the Eagles runners at first and third. Timmy Gorton singled the very next at bat to drive in Check to make the score 5-2. Back-to-back groundouts, however, ended the rally and game for Eastern.

"Proud of the way we battled back to make a game out of it," concluded Morris. "We have one more game down here, and we need to take full advantage of that opportunity. We did some good things in our last game and need to carry that over to tomorrow."

Kelly finished the day going 3-9 with an RBI and one run scored.

Eastern takes on Hilbert on March 5th at 9:30 am.