LANCASTER, Pa. - A seven-run second inning for the host Chargers, combined with three defensive miscues for the Eagles, proved to the difference on Tuesday night as Eastern Baseball dropped an 11-8 decision to Lancaster Bible. The Eagles' three errors resulted in five unearned runs for LBC, and the Chargers' big second inning allowed them to take a lead they would not relinquish.
Sean Cottrell continued right where he left off in Myrtle Beach, finishing 3-for-5 from the dish with a home run, a pair of runs scored, and three RBIs. Cottrell is now up to 18 hits, five home runs, and 21 RBIs in the Eagles' first 10 games, leading the team in all three categories.
After missing the first five contests,
Matt McHale has settled into a groove offensively. The Montville, N.J. native went 3-for-5 with a double, a triple, three runs scored, and an RBI.
Connor Schilling recorded two hits and drove in a run, while
Griffin Falco collected his team-leading fourth double and an RBI.
Cottrell opened the scoring in the first inning, singling home McHale for the early 1-0 lead. However, the Chargers tied the contest in their half of the frame before exploding for seven runs in the second inning to grab an 8-1 advantage. Five of those runs were unearned.
After a scoreless third frame, Eastern made a big push in the fourth, scoring five runs to cut the LBC lead to two.
Brad Clemens crossed home plate on a passed ball, before an RBI single from Schilling, an RBI double from McHale, and a two-run bomb from Cottrell made it 8-6.
The Chargers rebounded, getting two runs back in the bottom of the fourth and an insurance run in the seventh to regain a five-run advantage. McHale and Falco each drove in a run in the ninth, but the Eagles would not get any closer.
"Unfortunately, we did not play clean baseball today," Eastern Head Coach
Scott Renauro said. "We made too many errors and started hitting too late in the game. As a team, we stress clean baseball and we gave away too many free bases on the defensive side. We will have to iron a few things out in practice this week before our next game."
Eastern was originally scheduled to compete against Rosemont in its home opener tomorrow night, but the contest has been postponed due to incoming inclement weather. The game will now be played on Friday, March 11 beginning at 3:00 pm.
