LEESBURG, Fla. - Going up against a pair of tough programs on their final day of Spring Break, Eastern Softball ended their eight-game slate with a 9-3 loss to Saint Mary's and a 6-4 defeat in eight innings to Dubuque. Overall, it was a strong beginning for the Eagles, who ended their Spring Break with a 5-3 record, with included five straight victories to begin the campaign.
After three scoreless innings to begin its contest with Saint Mary's, the Eagles struck first, scoring the first two runs of the contest to grab the advantage in the fourth inning.
Sophie Rollins scored on a wild pitch, before
Elena Iannuzzelli plated Rollins with an RBI groundout.
However, the Cardinals answered in the bottom half of the frame, grabbing the lead for good with a three-run half-inning. SMU added six more insurance runs in the fifth to secure the triumph. Rollins,
Susana Perez, and
Tori Hook each collected two hits in the contest.
Jania Long got the scoring started for the Eagles against Dubuque, hitting an RBI double to score
Kacie Noonan and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. The Spartans had an answer, scoring four unanswered runs over the next three innings to grab a 4-1 advantage.
The Eagles did not go away without a fight, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh frame to send the game to extra innings. Iannuzzelli crossed home plate on a double steal, before a Noonan RBI single trimmed the Eagles' deficit to 4-3. Hook recorded the game-tying RBI with a sacrifice fly to right field, plating Noonan. However, the Spartans were able to plate two in the top of the eighth inning, regaining an advantage they would not relinquish.
Long finished the game with two hits in her four at-bats, while Noonan and
Meghan Johnson also collected a pair of knocks.
In her first collegiate action, Noonan put together an excellent opening week, hitting a robust .522 with 12 hits, eight runs scored, a triple, and a team-leading 10 RBIs. Long also played well in Florida, hitting .417 with 10 hits, two doubles, and a home run, while Johnson bat .400 with 10 hits, a double and a triple. In all, seven Eagles hit over .300 and recorded at least five hits.
Eastern will be back in action next Saturday, March 12, traveling across Eagle Road to take on Cabrini in a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon.
