READING, Pa.– Eastern University Softball rallied late in the second game to earn a 4-3 win in eight innings and save a split against the No. 21 Alvernia University Golden Wolves.
Lauren Lofland went seven to pick up the win and
Lexi Evelyn retired the final three batters of the game to pick up her second save of the season.
The Eagles dropped the opener 7-1, and trailed by a run early as the Golden Wolves used a single, a steal and another single to scratch out a run in the bottom of the first. The Eagles did not get a base-runner until the fourth inning, but Lofland worked through the Alvernia line-up and stayed away from trouble spots. She got some help in the third on a double-play when
Susana Perez threw out a runner trying to steal, and
Grace Gonzalez doubled up a runner on a line drive to right.
Sami Britton led off the fourth with a single to right, and she advanced to second on an
Emily Loomis single down the left field line. The two runners stayed there as Alvernia starter Ally Decker worked out of the jam.
The Eagles put two more on in both the fifth and sixth innings, but again, the rallies fizzled. The hosts doubled their led with a run in the sixth, but the damage could have been far worse. Alvernia had the first two hitters reach on hits and a third hitter drive in a run and reach on an error. Perez threw out another would-be base-stealer,a nd Lofland struck out a hitter before getting a ground out to end the inning.
Evelyn singled to start the Eastern rally in the seventh, and
Elena Iannuzzelli moved her along with a single to left. Britoon delivered the big blow of the inning with a double to center to drive ina pair and tie the game.
Emily Loomis singled to right to move Britton to third and then watched as her sister, Maggie came on in relief for the Golden Wolves.
Susana Perez rolled an RBi ground out to short to plate the go-ahead run against the younger Loomis. Gonzalez walked before megan Kolakowski lined out to end the rally.
Alvernia did not go quietly. Maggie Loomis singled and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. She eventually scored on a sacrifice fly to center to send the game to extra innings.
The Eagles got the game-winner after
Kelci Cost singled to lead off and advanced ona sacrifice bunt from Evelyn. Ianuzzulli singled to center to drive in Cost who scored just before Ianuzzelli was tagged out at second.
After the first batter reached on a ground-ball single, Head Coach
Terri Adams made the move to Evelyn for the close. The senior retired all three hitters she faced to earn the save.
"Game two was a total team win." Adams said "After losing in the first game we stuck to our game plan for the second. Our pitching staff provided us with a strong opportunity to win until our bats came alive later in the game. It took an entire team effort to get this win."
The Eagles fell behind 7-0 after three innings in the opener. Despite the eraly deficit, the Eastern pitching staff held the line and gave the offense all seven at bats in the contest. The Eagles scratched out only three hits against game-one starter Riley Shields. Kolakowski drove in the only Eastern run of the game with a double in the fourth inning.
With five games in the need-to-be-played category, the schedule should fill up over the coming weeks. At this point, it is certain that there are no games tomorrow. Check the schedule page and social media for updates.
