WILKES-BARRE, Pa.– Eastern University Softball dropped a pair of games at King's College to close the 2018 season. After dropping the run-shortened game in the opener, the Eagles scored in three different innings in a tight 4-3 loss in the nightcap.
The Eastern bats started to show life late in the first game.
Emily Loomis hit a one-out triple in the fifth inning. She scored on a sacrifice fly from
Sabrina Thomas. The Eagles then were able to load the bases on a single by
Taylor Crown, a double from from
Rebecca Howard and a hit by pitch. The rally, however, ended when the King's right fielder was able to corrale a
Leah Lozzi fly ball.
The Eagles used the momentum picked up at the end of the 9-1 loss to start the second game well. The Eagles scored single tallied in the second and third innings. in the second, Lozzi drove in
Sabrina Thomas who singled and moved to second on a
Sami Britton sacrifice bunt. The Eagles scored on three singles in the third to grab a 2-0 lead. Crown drove in Sam Albertson after Howard moved her to second with an infield single.
The Monarchs (19-18, 6-8 MAC Freedom) finally got to Britton in the third, but the rookie pitcher stranded two base-runners to escape further damage. The Eastern offense went quiet, and the Monarchs finally broke through with two runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Down 3-2, the Eagles needed to rally in the sixth. Thomas hit a two-out single to start the Eastern chance in the sixth. after Britton singled, Lozzi delivered a double to tie the game. The Monarchs answered with a run on one hit in the bottom of the sixth and Eagles were unable to take advantage of a bases-loaded chance in the top of the seventh.
Coach Birchmeier Says:
"We brought the energy from the end of game one in to game two and played some really solid ball. I'm proud of how these girls have progressed through a season with only two home games. Although the record does not depict our success, we have achieved many small victories. Games like game two are going to become our norm as we continue to grow as a program."
