WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Eastern Baseball dropped both games of the doubleheader against King's Saturday afternoon falling by scores of 7-2 and 5-4. The Eagles battled back to tie the game after trailing in game two, but the Monarchs won on a walk off to sweep the three-game series.
Eastern (10-14-3, 4-7 MAC Freedom) fell behind 4-1 in the second game and after struggling to find any offensive rhythm in the first two games of the series, the Eagles bats began to come to life.
Angelo Kelly reached on an error in the fifth inning to give Eastern a runner on first with one out.
Joe Grato would drive in Kelly two batters later when he doubled down the right field line to cut the deficit to two.
Still trailing by two in the top of the seventh the Eagles rallied to tie the game at 4-4. A double play looked like it would seal the win for the Monarchs (17-7, 7-4 MAC Freedom) but Kelly drew a walk and
Timmy Gorton singled to give Eastern runners on base but more importantly a chance to tie if not take the lead. Grato delivered again doubling to plate both Gorton and Kelly to tie the game.
A single and walk by the first two batters in the bottom of the seventh gave King's runners on first and second. Another single by the Monarchs plated the game-winning run and gave them the victory, 5-4, and the series sweep.
Anthony Vlahovic turned in a nice outing for Eastern going six innings and allowing five hits, four runs, two earned and struck out three getting a no decision.
The Eagles got off to a quick start in game one scoring two runs in the second inning to take a 2-0 lead. They were unable to sustain the momentum as King's went on to score the next seven runs to earn the 7-2 win.
Back-to-back singles by
Andrew Check and
Shane Albertson gave Eastern runners on first and second with two outs in the inning.
Craig Stanley doubled to score both Check and Albertson for the early lead. King's went on to score in four of the next five innings, five in the fifth and sixth inning combined to secure the victory.
Grato finished the day 2-5 with 3 RBI's while Gorton combined to go 3-6 with an RBI.
Eastern hosts Delaware Valley on April 17th for a doubleheader starting at 1 pm.
