YORK, Pa.– Eastern University Softball (4-4) returned to the field for the first time since playing in Florida over two weeks ago. The long lay-off and freezing weather did not help the Eagles as they struggled to get anything going at York in a pair of six inning losses. The host Spartans (11-5) held the Eagles to a single unearned run over 12 innings.

While Eastern's run in the third went down as an unearned run, it did not come without work. Melissa Irick worked a walk to start the inning,a nd Alyssa Bolger flipped a ball over the mound for an infield hit to put runners on first and second with one out. With two outs, Jess Snader singled down the line in left, but Bolger and Irick had to hold at second and third until the throw from the outfield came home offline and Irick trotted home.

York's starter, Ginger Lewis, was impressive with power and command, and the Eagles struggled to catch up as she struck out 15 and walked just one in her six innings of work.

Irick made it through four innings allowing just a single run in the first. She was getting outs by pitching to contact, but the Spartans hit three balls where there is not defense in the fifth inning to break open the game. The first two home runs came off Irick before Meghan Johnson came on in relief.

The Spartans did not have a big inning in game two, but the hosts scored in five of the six innings on the way to an 8-0 win. Grace Gonzalez had a pair of hits in the loss.

While the results were not what the Eagles hoped for, the games should prove to be helpful for the team as they prepare to start MAC Freedom competition this weekend at Wilkes.

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