ST. DAVIDS, Pa.-Eastern University Baseball saw a late rally fall just short in a tightly-contested game against DeSales at The Yard. The Eagles pounded out 13 hits but left five runners on in the final four innings of a 7-5 loss.

How It Happened:
After the Bulldogs (17-14, 11-5 MAC Freedom) grabbed a 1-0 lead ona  solo home run in the second, Liam Clarke hit a two-run shot, his second career home run, in the bottom of the third to put the Eagles up 2-1.

The top of the fourth proved to be the decisive inning of the game. The Bulldogs scored five runs on four hits to build a 6-2 lead. Tyler Bennett hit two Bulldog hitters in the frame.

Andrew Behnam came on for a scoreless fifth. He got some help out of the inning on a tremendous diving catch in center field from Matt McHale. The first-year center fielder robbed Nick With two outs and a man on second. McHale took a perfect route on a drive to deep left center and left his feet to catch the ball while diving toward the fence.

The Bulldogs scratched out a run on two hits and a sacrifice fly in the sixth, and the Eagles answered with a two-out RBi single from McHale in the sixth to drive in Britton Lawrence and cut the DeSales lead to 7-3.

Behnam pitched a scoreless seventh and Matt Poma threw a scoreless eighth.

The Eagles built their best chance of the day in the eighth. DeSales starter John Poccia gave up a pair of singles to put two on with one out. Brady DiGiacomo greeted the DeSales reliever with an RBI single to center. McHale added another single to load the bases. Kyle Daddario worked a ten-pitch at bat for a single up the middle. DeSales second baseman Preston Amato made a great play to knock the ball down at the edge of the infield dirt to keep a third runner from scoring in the inning. That play proved to be significant as the next two hitters made outs without being able to drive in another run.

Poma worked out of a jam after allowing a one-out double in the ninth. After the next hitter singled, Bulldog first baseman Sergio Diaz tried to scored on a wild pitch. Jordan Laboy got to the ball quickly and fed Poma at the plate for the tag.

The Eagles were unable to get a rally going in the ninth and fell 7-5. Poccio improved to 7-1 on the year.

Coach Renauro Says:
"Bennett did not have his best stuff today. He didn't get a head of hitter, and when we get behind good hitters they don't miss very often. One bad inning changed the rest of the game. Our relievers did a great job keeping us in the game."

"As the game went along,pir hitters started to get on time. As a whole, we were balanced and had good approaches. Liam continued his hot streak with a two run homerun that kick-started the offense today."

"McHale and Liam Clarke made great plays that kept us in the game today. McHale really showed his athleticism on the ball he got in the gap. That was an unbelievable play in a big spot. Liam had two great plays that were a little less spectacular,. but no less important. He had a big outfield assist on a play at home and then was able to keep a hitter off of second on a clear double down the line. The two of them have really improved as the season has gone on."

"Moving forward, we need to continue to play clean in the field and work from ahead against hitter."

Up Next
The Eagles (12-20, 6-10 MAC Freedom) are slated to play a doubleheader at DeSales on Saturday.