ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - Eastern Softball overcame a seven-run deficit in the sixth inning of the second game of a doubleheader against FDU-Florham scoring 12 runs to claim a dramatic 16-14 victory and split the series with the Devils on Tuesday afternoon. Both Leah Lozzi and Maria Day hit their first collegiate home runs to help Eastern complete the comeback. 

"I am speechless right now," said Head Coach Claire Emplit. "Words can't even begin to describe how happy I am for these girls and what they accomplished today. That was a great win and something special for them to be part of." 

Eastern (7-13, 2-4 MAC Freedom) fell behind early allowing two runs in the top fo the first inning. A three-run bottom of the first inning gave the Eagles their first lead of the game. Back-to-back singles by Alyssa Bolger and Lozzi gave Eastern runners on base with no outs. After Haleigh Williams had earned a walk, Alyssa Welsh doubled to left plating two runs to tie the game. Maria Day singled later in the inning to plate H. Williams to give Eastern the 3-2 lead. 

The lead was short-lived as FDU-Florham (7-9, 3-3 MAC) tacked on nine straight runs over the next four innings including five in the second inning to take an 11-3 lead. Lozzi then cut the deficit to seven when she launched a home run to center, the first of her collegiate career, to make 11-4.

After the Devils stretched the lead to 13-4 in the top if the sixth inning the wildest half inning of softball ensued this season for the Eagles. After Taylor Crown had singled to start off the bottom of the sixth inning, Day belted the first home run of her career to cut the deficit to seven at 13-6. A double by Morgan Burke later in the inning plated two more runs to make the score just 13-8. Singles by Crown and H. Williams each plated runs to cut the FDU-Florham lead to just three, 13-10, and the comeback was in full swing for the Eagles. 

"I started to get that feeling that something special was happening," stated Emplit. "I just knew that if we could tie the game and find a way to take the lead we would win the game for sure." 

After Welsh scored on an RBI single by Day and Crown scored on a passed ball another passed ball plated Day to tie the game at 13-13. Bolger singled two batters lead to plate Melissa Irick and for the first time since the bottom of the first inning Eastern had the lead at 14-13. Burke completed the inning scoring Bolger and Megan Quinn to give the Eagles a 16-13 advantage.

Overall Eastern turned out 11 hits in the inning which was more than in the Eagles last two games combined and matched the total from their game against Penn St. Harrisburg. For the game, Eastern turned out season-highs with 16 runs and 19 hits. Also Day's and Lozzi's home runs were not only the first for them but the team's first of the season as well. 

"What a game, I am so proud of the girls," continued Emplit. "This was a total team win and it took every single player doing their job to accomplish the goal. This is a win that can show these girls what they are capable of and what they can truly accomplish when they believe in themselves and push themselves to do their best." 

FDU-Florham claimed the opening game of the series 7-4. The Devils jumped out to a 5-0 lead, but Eastern clawed back to score three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cut the deficit to just two. The Eagles tacked on one more run in the bottom of the seventh but couldn't muster any more offense and fell short of the comeback. 

Eastern travels to Delaware Valley on April 9th for a doubleheader starting at 12 pm.