MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. - In an offensive slugfest on Wednesday afternoon, Eastern Baseball, behind 17 hits and three four-plus run innings, came with a win, defeating the Neumann Knights 21-12. The Eagles rebounded from an early four-run deficit, scoring 20 unanswered runs en route to their first victory of the 2022 campaign.
Along with their 17 hits, the Eagles (1-4) drove in 18 runs and showed tremendous discipline at the plate, drawing 10 walks and striking out just five times.
Sean Cottrell was a force to be reckoned with, finishing with three hits, a home run, and a team-leading seven RBIs. In their first action of the season,
Matt McHale,
David Hunsberger, and
Jason Hall combined for eight hits, two doubles, a home run, and seven runs batted in.
Connor Schilling collected two hits and five runs scored, while Hall and
Ryan Turzani each scored four runs apiece.
Neumann grabbed the early advantage, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. However, after Schilling got a run back on a wild pitch in the second frame, the Eagles took the lead for good with four runs in the second. McHale drew a bases-loaded walk, Cottrell followed with an RBI single, and Hunsberger ended the frame with a two-run, ground-rule double.
The Eagles created more separation in the third inning with seven more runs, which included home runs from Hall,
Mark Cruser, and
Joe Paradise. Eight tallies in the fourth and fifth frames, highlighted by a three-run Cottrell bomb, put Eastern up 20-4.
The Knights (2-1) made their push, scoring eight straight to cut the Eagles' advantage to eight. But two shutout frames from first-year pitcher
Christopher Graber allowed the Eagles to secure the win. Graber allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out three.
Gavin Mikulski (1-0) pitched a solid six frames to earn his first win of the season. The first-year pitcher finished with five strikeouts while allowing only one walk.
The Eagles' first game of the day was a back and forth affair, but a pair of late home runs proved to be the difference in a 9-8 loss to Newport News Apprentice School. Cottrell finished 3-for-5 with a home run and four RBIs, while Paradise also went 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Schilling drove in a pair of runs.
Eastern will continue its Spring Break tomorrow with a pair of contests against the University of Mary Washington. First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon.
