ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - In its second conference doubleheader of the season on Saturday, Eastern Softball could not overcome Messiah's strong pitching and its lack of consistent offensive production in a pair of losses. The Eagles recorded just two hits in a 4-0 loss in game one, before a late rally came up just short in a 5-3 defeat in the second contest.

Jania Long put together a dominant performance in game two, finishing 4-for-4 with a home run, three singles, and three RBIs. On the season, Long now leads the Eagles in home runs (three) and RBIs (16). Kelci Cost finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored, while Susana Perez, Meghan Johnson, Tori Hook, and Hailey Krichten each added a hit.

Messiah (12-6) struck first in game two, scoring three runs on a pair of costly Eastern errors to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Long answered back in the home half of the second, sending a moonshot over the center field wall to cut the Falcons' advantage to 3-1.

Long's second hit of the day also brought home a run. After Cost roped a one-out double to left field, the first-year first basemen followed with an RBI single to center field, making it 3-2 heading into the fourth inning.

That was as close as the Eagles would get. The Falcons regained their two-run advantage on a bases-loaded walk in the top of the fourth before tacking on an insurance run in the top of the seventh for the 5-2 lead. Eastern did not go down without a fight, punching another run across home plate and loading the bases with two outs, but a groundout in the infield ended the late rally.

Eastern could not get much going in the opener, recording just two hits against Messiah starter Madison Walter. The Eagles went down in order in four of the game's seven inning, striking out eight times.

Eastern (7-7) will be back in action on Thursday for a pair of non-conference contests against Neumann. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm.