ASHLAND, Va.– Eastern University Softball opened the 2017 season at Randolph-Macon. The young Eagles dropped both games of the doubleheader but gained valuable experience to start the year.

The host Yellow Jackets had already swept a pair of doubleheaders and had averaged 29 wins over the past five seasons. Their head coach, Kevin Proffitt picked up his 300th career win in a 3-0 win in the opener.

Freshman pitcher Megan Johnson surrendered a two-run home run in the bottom of the first and gave up an unearned run in the second and then held the speedy hosts the rest of the way. The trouble for the Eagles, was Yellow Jacket starter Candace Whittemore.  The sophomore pitcher did not allow an Eastern hit until Alyssa Bolger doubled with one out in the seventh. As much as the offense struggled against the All-ODAC performer, Head Coach Claire Emplit was pleased that Johnson gave her team a chance with a solid pitching performance and the the team kept working for good at bats through the game.

The Eastern offense was more active in game two. Bolger singled in the first and third innings, and the Eagles put a pair of runners on in the second.

The Eagles trailed 2-0 in the top of the fourth when Kelsey Clever lined a double down the left field line. Rebecca Howard hit a two-out single through the right side to drive home Clever and bring the Eagles to within one.

The Yellow Jackets struck for three runs in the top of the fourth and then closed out the game with four runs in the sixth.

"They were very fast through the line-up," Emplit related, "and they did a lot to put pressure on our defense. This was a good test for us defensively."

The Eagles will play two games in Virginia Beach tomorrow. They will play Hunter at 2 pm and Baruch at 6 pm.