ST. DAVIDS, Pa.– On a day to celebrate seniors, Eastern University Baseball picked up an 8-7 extra-inning win in the opening game of the MAC Freedom doubleheader against King's College.
Thomas Aguila delivered Eastern's fifteenth hit of the game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to drive in
Kyle Daddario for the win. The Monarchs (16-17, 11-9) claimed a 5-1 lead in the nightcap.
How It Happened:
The Eagles jumped to a 3-0 lead on three hits in the bottom of the first. After the Monarchs scored twice against
Mickey Foytik over the next two innings, the Eagles scrtached out an unearned run in the bottom of the third.
Luke Gruendl and Daddario each delivered one-out singles. Gruendl scored on a two-out error.
The lead grew to 7-2 with a three-run fifth. Daddario again started the rally with a single through the left side.
Brad Clemens and Aguila each singled to load the bases. After
Matt McHale drove in a run with a walk, two more runs scored when
Britton Lawrence reached ona fielder's choice and an error. The Monarchs got the force play at second, but the relay was late and went out of play.
King's, who will be the fourth seed in the upcoming MAC Freedom Tournament , chipped away with two runs in the top of the sixth, but the game seemed safe when
Jacob Breyer retired the first two hitters in the seventh. A single, a walk, and a double to left-center put the tying run in scoring position.
Steve Sattanino rushed to get warmed up.
The Monarchs tied the game against the sophomore before he escaped further damage with a strikeout.
Sattanino had five strikeouts over two and a third innings to pick up his fifth win of the year.
Daddario started the final rally with a one-out single to right field. After
Jordan Laboy flied out, Clemens pulled a long single to right center. Daddario made it to third on the hit. Aguila poked the second pitch he saw over the second baseman's head to drive in Daddario and delight the home crowd.
With four hits today, Daddario has 96 hits in his career.
After a ceremony to honor Eastern's six seniors before game two, the Eagles's bats managed only six hits in support of
Andrew Behnam,
Ian Roth and
Matt Bunjo. Behnam went five innings in the start. Roth pitched the sixth and Bunjo pitched a scoreless seventh. The Monarchs loaded the bases on two ground balls in the infield and a walk before Bunjo escaped the jam with a double-play ball to Lawrence at third.
The Eagles put two on in the seventh, but Monarch starter Dan Hartson finished the game with a ground ball out to escape the jam.
Coach Renauro Says:
"It was a great to celebrate our seniors! Kyle started the big walk-off inning. In those situations its easy to get very long and try to get try to end the game in one swing. Kyle and others in the extra inning did a great job staying short and executing."
"Laboy had a very important throw out on a stolen base attempt. He has made a lot of strides with his throws to second. Andrew Behnam threw very well throwing his offspeed for strikes and then both Bunjo and Roth came in and got ground balls that kept us in the game. Our seniors' hard work showed in the doubleheader today."
Up Next:
The Eagles (14-23, 7-13) are slated to close out the regular season with a noon game at King's tomorrow.Expected weather may result in changes.
