ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - Behind a combination of efficient offense, excellent defense, and strong pitching, Eastern Softball (9-7) recorded a doubleheader sweep with 5-0 and 4-2 triumphs over the Neumann Knight on Thursday. The Eagles finished with 19 total hits, Eastern pitching combined to give up just two runs, and the defense was flawless, committing zero errors over the course of the afternoon and evening.
Kelci Cost was tremendous in all facets in the opener. The sophomore centerfielder finished with three hits in her four at-bats and gunned down a pair of runners at home plate to keep the Knights off the scoreboard. Kacie Noonan recorded two hits and three RBIs, while Susana Perez also finished with two knocks, including a solo shot to left field, her third of the season, to help the Eagles pull away late in the contest. Sami Britton added two hits in three at-bats.
Tori Hook led the offense in the nightcap. The first-year infielder finished with two hits, including her first collegiate home run, while Sophie Rollins and Elena Iannuzzelli also recorded two hits apiece.
In the circle, Jania Long (4-5) earned the win in game one, giving up just two hits and no runs in four innings of work. Victoria Perez and Hailey Krichten were equally as effective in the final three frames, combining to allow only two hits. Perez (2-0) recorded her second win of the season in the nightcap, allowing only one run in four innings of work.
Neumann (6-17) looked to strike first, putting a runner on third base with one out in the top of the first, but Long escaped the jam, inducing a lineup and a groundout to end the Knights' threat. Eastern grabbed the lead for good in their half of the inning as Britton and Noonan each hit RBI singles to give the Eagles a 2-0 advantage.
After Cost second's throwout at home in the top of the fifth, the Eagles tacked on two more runs in their half of the frame. Noonan singled up the middle, scoring Britton and Cost for the 4-0 lead. Perez added a little insurance in the bottom of the sixth, crushing a ball over the left-field fence for the final 5-0 tally.
The Knights struck first in game two, scoring a single run in the first inning, but the Eagles struck back in the bottom of the third frame. Rollins led off the frame with a double to left field, before Perez eventually plated her with an RBI groundout.
Hook singled home Noonan in the fourth, giving the Eagles a 2-1 lead, before Iannuzzelli scored on a wild pitch in the fifth for a 3-1 Eastern advantage. Neumann got within one in the top of the sixth, but Hook responded with her first collegiate home run of the season in the bottom of the frame, putting the Eagles back up 4-2. Long, after picking up the win in game one, recorded her first collegiate save with a pair of strikeouts in the top of the seventh. After walking the first two batters, Long ended the game with three straight outs to secure the doubleheader sweep.
The Eagles will be back in action on the road on Saturday, traveling to Frederick to take on MAC Commonwealth rival Hood in a pair of contests. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
