DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – Eastern Baseball shutout hosts Delaware Valley to take the first game of a three-game series against the Aggies. It is the Eagles first shutout since March 16, 2014, against Wilkes and their first MAC Freedom nine-inning game shutout since April 3, 2011, against Manhattanville.

While the top four hitters in the Eastern line-up have put up gaudy numbers all year, the bottom-half of the order was crucial for the Eagles today. Led by Shane Albertson's 4-for4 afternoon, the four players hitting sixth through ninth were 9-for-17 with three runs, and two RBI's.

Albertson got the offense going for the Eagles in the fifth (10-10-2, 4-4 MAC Freedom).  The freshman shortstop hit a one-out single to left. Jordan Laboy reached base on a fielders choice, and Craig Stanley beat out a bunt to load the bases. Junior right-fielder Andelo Kelly singled to left field to drive in Stanley and Timmy Gorton hit a sacrifice fly to put the Eagles up 2-0.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Eagles tacked on two more runs to extend their lead to 4-0. Stanley, hitting ninth, came to bat with the bases loaded. The sophomore left-fielder delivered  a two-RBI single to left field drive in Andrew Boykin and Andrew Check.

Ryan Kehr was masterful through six innings. The junior right-hander allowed only three hits and struck out four to earn his third win of the season. After giving up a triple in the bottom of the first inning, Kehr held the Aggies (10-7, 2-5 MAC Freedom) hitless for next three innings and gave up two-out singles in the fifth and the sixth.

With snow in the forecast for tomorrow and the doubleheader already postponed, Head Coach Jed Morris had access to his entire bullpen today.

Nick Centeno struck out one in an inning and a third. Josh Freed retired the final two hitters in the eighth and retired the first batter in the ninth  before Grant Fisher came on to face the very dangerous duo of Kyle Wenger and Matt DeWald. The two players in the middle of the Aggie order are both hitting over .450 and they account for nearly half of Delaware Valley's extra-base hits. Fisher, a lanky lefty, retired Wenger on a ground ball to second and allowed a single to Dewald.

Tommy Strazza came in to retire the final batter. The last three relievers forced five groundball outs.

Albertson went 4-for-4 and scored a run while Stanley went 2-for-4 with two RBI's and stole two bases on the afternoon.

Eastern will host Delaware Valley in a doubleheader to close out the series. The date for that twinbill is to-be-announced.