GRANTHAM, Pa.– Eastern University Softball knew that some trends were going to have to end. The Eagles came into the doubleheader in their MAC Commonwealth first-round series at Messiah needing to do something that no Eastern softball team had ever done. The Eagles were 0-10 against Messiah in program history. They were up to the task. They rallied late in the nightcap to force a deciding game back in St. Davids tomorrow.

Things got a little more daunting for the Eagles when they were held without a hit in the 4-0 loss in the opener. They went to game two needing a win to stay standing.

The Falcons scratched out an unearned run in the first inning to grab control of the game, and the Eagles did not get their first hit of the day until Grace Gonzalez doubled to left-center with two outs in the fourth.

Sami Britton reached on a two-base error to start the sixth, but Emily Loomis and Susana Perez made outs int he error and Britton was still standing on second when Gonzalez came back up. Her double to left-center tied the game. Kailah Altemose singled up the middle and Gonzalez beat the throw to give the Eagles their first lead against Messiah since Janelle Fair doubled in Samantha Terenzoni in the top of the first in a game at Messiah in April of 2011.

The lead was all  Lauren Lofland needed. The rookie pitcher retired the next six Falcons in order to complete the win. Lofland struck out four and allowed just two hits in five innings to earn the win.

The Eagles will host the Falcons at 2:30 tomorrow. Messiah will bat second in the game.