ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – Eastern University Baseball used a five run sixth inning to rally to a 6-3 win in the opening game of a senior day doubleheader against hte Messiah University Falcons. The Eagles, however, were unable to win the series as the Falcons (9-14-1) jumped out to an early lead and never looked back in an 8-0 win in the nightcap.

Tyler Bennett allowed a pair of runs in the third and a single run in the fifth, btu the Eagles were able to limit the damage in both innings on some sharp field plays. Bennett helped himself out of a jam  in the third inning on a squeeze attempt with one out. The senior starter read the ball off the bat and made a diving catch of the bunt attempt as the runner from third was less than ten feet from home plate. He lobbed a ball to Shane Albertson to complete the double play.

In the fifth, it was Albertson who made the key play. The senior third baseman read the play perfectly on a throw from left field field that was going to be too late to get a runner scoring from second on a single. Albertson cut off the throw and fired to second to clear the bases for Bennett.

The Eastern offense could muster only a single run on a Mickey Foytik single to third off the Messiah starter. Brad Clemens came home on the fourth-inning play. Despite having two on and noboday out, the Eagles could not add on.

Riley Kiebach came on for Bennett and despite giving up a hit, a walk, and a balk, he pitched a scoreless sixth.

Connor Schilling started the rally off the Messiah reliever with a single to the right side. Foytik followed with another shot to right. When Dave Hunsberger walked, Jeffrey Williams had a chance make a difference. The senior infielder came into today with two career RBI's. He doubled that number with a line drive down the left field line to tie the game at 3-3.

With Griffin Falco at the plate, the Falcons put a wheel play on to defend the bunt, but a wild pitch put Williams and Hunsberger into scoring position. The first year catcher then laced a solid single through a drawn in infield to plate a pair. He scampered to second on the throw to the plate. Matt McHale capped the rally with a two-out double to left-center to increase the Eastern lead to 6-3.

Albertson came on to pitch the ninth. He retired all three batters he faced to pick up his second save in 24 hours.

After honoring the seniors between games, the Eagles fell behind early in the nine-inning nightcap. The Falcons scored seven runs through four innings and desptie hitting three doubles, the Eastern offense could not get anything going in the game. Albertson hit a double to left in the eighth that was only inches away from a home run, but there would be no late comeback.

The Eagles (4-12, 3-7) have a league doubleheader at Widener on Wednesday and a four-game set against York next weekend. The Albright series is still in limbo.