ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– Playing in just the second home doubleheader of the year, Eastern University Softball gave home fans something to cheer about with a 9-8 come-from-behind win over the visiting Widener University Pride in the opening game. The Pride won a 1-0 pitching duel in the nightcap. The Eagles scored the last nine runs of the game in the opener.

Widener (13-5) jumped out to a 2-0 lead with aggressive baserunning in the first inning. The Pride scored two more runs in the third and tacked on four more in the fourth. Olivia Rogers delivered the big blow of the inning with a two-run triple to finish the inning.

Throughout the early part of the season, the Eastern offense has struggled to build big innings. Down 8-0, the Eagles needed to do just that. Grace Gonzalez started the rally with a hard single up the middle to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Jess Snader then drove a ball on the same batch to put runners on first and second. Melissa dropped a perfect bunt down the third base line to load the bases. Kelsey Clever lashed another single up the middle to drive in the first Eastern run of the inning. 

It had been 51 innings since the Eagles had posted multiple runs, so when the Pride cut down Snader at the plate on a grounder to short, the pressure shifted on the Eastern hitters to make a play. The Eagles got a break they needed on a wild pitch. Irick read the situation perfectly and scored without a play. Rebecca Howard drove in the third run of the inning with a fly ball to center field, but the Eagles still trailed 8-3 heading to the fifth inning.

Irick got some defensive support on an unusual play in the top of the fifth. After a one-out single, the next hitter slapped a single off Alyssa' Bolger's glove at first. Gonzalez reached the ball quickly and delivered a throw to third that was too late to get the lead runner. Taylor Crown popped off the bag and delivered a strike to second to get the trail runner trying to grab an extra base. That play turned out to be big when the next hitter lifted a long fly ball to Center for the final out of the inning.

The Eagles went quietly in the fifth and went to the bottom of the sixth trailing by five. The inning started with Irick swinging at a pitch in the dirt for strike three. She saw the ball skip past the catcher and beat the throw to first to put a baserunner on. Clever then delivered with a double to left center. After Crown reached on an error and Howard grounded out, the Eagles had a run, but and two runners on base. Maddie Iswalt hit a swinging bunt down the third base line to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate.

Bolger kept the inning going with a single to center and close the gap to 8-5. Sam Albertson grounded into a fielder's choice with an out at the plate to keep the bases loaded with two outs. Gonzalez ripped a double to center. Three runs scored on the play after the throw to third escaped as Bolger was sliding into the bag. Snader put the Eagles up with her third hit of the afternoon. She looped a flare over the third baseman's head. She was thrown out trying to stretch the play to a double. Snader leads the Eagles with 15 hits and a .395 average this spring. 

The top of the seventh was not without adventure. The Pride put a pair of runners on, but Irick threw a good 1-2 change-up to retire the final batter on soft roller to first base.

With a steady drizzle falling, Haleigh Williams threw perhaps the best game of the year for the Eagles in game two. Unfortunately for her, her efforts were matched by Widener start Ally Horvath. Horvath allowed only four hits and scored the only run of the game on a one-out ground out in the third inning. Williams scattered seven hits. Only three of those hits reached the outfield.

Gonzalez again provided good defensive support in right field. The freshman threw out a runner trying to score from second on a single to the outfield.

Clever led off the seventh with a single, but the rally died when she was thrown out at third on a successful sacrifice bunt from Taylor Crown. Clever read the Widener defense and saw the open bag at third after the bunt, but the Widener shortstop and the pride made two good throws and a great tag to complete the double play.

"We really dug deep to produce in game one," Head Coach Claire Emplit. "It was good to see us string together hits and score. I loved that we did not quit on either of these games. Haleigh was really good in game two and we played better defense as well, but their pitcher did a nice job, and their defense played well also."

The Eagles (3-11) will look to take momentum from today into a weekend doubleheader against Wilkes. Game one is scheduled for 1 pm on Saturday. As with everything this spring, weather could play a role. Follow @EUEagles on Twitter or check schedule pages to confirm game times.