MECHANICSBURG, Pa. - After a tough loss in game one, Eastern Baseball (10-19, 3-5) came roaring back in game two with a 13-5 triumph over MAC Commonwealth rival Messiah (16-12, 6-2). The Eagles recorded 17 hits in the eight-run triumph, five for extra bases, and scored at least one run in seven of the game's nine innings. With the victory, the Eagles handed the Falcons just their second loss of the season in conference play.  

Garrett Friend put together a strong performance at the dish, leading the Eagles with four hits in six at-bats to go along with three runs scored, while Sean Cottrell finished with three hits, a double, and his team-leading 33rd RBI of the season. Draig Cooley also homered and collected a pair of hits, while Connor Schilling added two knocks, two runs scored, and three RBIs. 

Eastern took the lead for good in the first inning on Mark Cruser sacrifice fly, before increasing their advantage to 5-0 with a four-run second inning. Schilling plated Aaron Santos with another sacrifice fly, before a Cooley two-run shot to right-center, his third of the season, put the Eagles up by four runs. Friend capped the scoring later in the inning on a Messiah wild pitch. 

RBI singles from Friend and Cottrell in the third and fourth frames put the Eagles ahead 7-2. Eastern scored six runs in the final three innings to put the contest away, highlighted by Hunsberger's three-run blast in the seventh frame and a two-run single by Schilling in the ninth. 

Tanner Creel (4-2) recorded his team-high fourth win of the season in relief. The first-year lefty pitched 4.1 innings, allowing five hits and three runs while striking out two. Carter Cranmer added another scoreless inning, striking out one in the bottom of the ninth. 

"It was definitely the tale of two games," Eastern Head Coach Scott Renauro said. "In the second game, the team really responded. Garrett Friend had really good at-bats all day but the rest of the team swung it with him in game two. It was great to see Dave and Connor back hitting balls hard. When we try not to do too much at the plate, we do a much better job squaring balls up." 

Eastern will be back in action on Wednesday, traveling to Langhorne to take on Cairn for the second time this season. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 pm.