DALLAS, Pa.– After trailing 7-1, Eastern University Baseball had the tying run at the plate with one out in the top of the seventh, but the rally fell short and the Eagles dropped the third and final game of their MAC Freedom series against Misericordia. The Cougars ran away to a 17-1 win in the opener.
The Eagles grabbed a 1-0 lead in the nightcap before the Cougars answered with single tallies in the first and second to pull ahead. Eastern started
Colyn Hoffer worked through three and retired the first hitter of the fourth before the Cougars scored five runs on four hits in the fourth.
Andrew Behnam came on to get the final out of the inning. While putting the ball in play, only one of the Misericordia hits in the inning, a two-RBI double to right-center by Parker Abate was hit hard. Nonetheless, the Cougars led 7-1.
Behnam pitched a scoreless fifth and
Matt Bunjo worked out of a jam without allowing a run in the sixth to set up a final at bat for the Eagles.
Britton Lawrence, Zach Belansek, and Joe Poma each singled to load the bases with no one out. After Lawrence scored on a wild pitch,
Robbie Schreck walked to load the bases with the Eagles trailing 7-2.
Liam Clarke drove in a run with a fielder's choice and
Kyle Daddario delivered a single through the right side to close the gap to 7-4 with two runners on base.
Misericordia brought in a new pitcher, and the rally ended with
Timmy Gorton standing on deck.
Eastern (6-14, 1-8 MAC Freedom) matched the Cougars with eight hits in the nightcap but came up a big play short in the loss.
"We are not firing on all cylinders this weekend," Head Coach
Jed Morris said after the tough doubleheader. "We are dealing with a lot of injuries and we keep losing the battle for free bases. We have a lot of learning to do."
The Eagles fell behind early in the opener, and the Cougars scored in five of their six at bats to pull away.
In as much as any schedule can be known this spring, the Eagles are slated to host Penn State Brandywine on Tuesday before beginning their MAC Freedom series against FDU-Florham with a nine inning game at home on Wednesday, Apr. 11.
As always, follow @EUEagles on Twitter or check the schedule page for the latest updates.
