WILKES-BARRE, Pa.– Eastern University Baseball came into today's series opener at King's needing to sweep the Monarchs to earn a spot in the MAC Freedom Tournament. The Eagles rallied late to tie the game at 6-6, but the host Monarchs took advantage of their final at bat of the game to earn the 7-6 win.

The Monarchs scored single runs in the second and third innings to grab an early lead, but the Eagles put up two runs in each of the next two innings to take a 4-2 advantage. Shane Albertson delivered a two-out two-RBI single in the fourth, and Angelo Kelly had an RBI triple and came around to score on a Jordan Laboy single in the fifth.

The Eastern lead, however, was short-lived. The Monarchs scored four runs with only two hits to the outfield in the sixth inning to lead 6-4.

Matt Bunjo came on for the seventh and only allowed a single. The Eagles tied the game with a pair of runs in the eighth. Albertson scored when Craig Stanley reached on an error, and Kelly drove in another run with his third hit of the day. 

Bunjo worked a perfect eighth as well. The Eagles had a baserunner in the ninth, but the Monarchs turned a double play to set up the decisive ninth inning. After a single and a sacrifice, Kyle Lupas, the Monarch designated hitter knocked a single to center. Stanley's throw home was on line, but the runner beat the tag to end the game.

"I am having a hard time finding words," Head Coach Jed Morris said. "Too man little runs along the way wind up keeping us out of the playoffs this year." The Eagles (13-20, 8-11 MAC Freedom) have either lost in the last at bat or had the tying run a the plate in all but two of their conference losses.

With a team-high three hits today, Angelo Kelly now has 194 hits in his career. The Eagles will wrap up their series and season with a home doubleheader against King's on Sunday.