YORK, Pa. - Behind 13 hits and solid pitching throughout the contest, Eastern Softball (12-8, 3-5) salvaged a doubleheader split with MAC Commonwealth foe York (12-7, 4-2) on Saturday with an 8-3 win in game two. Five Eagles finished with two hits in the game, while four recorded at least one RBI in the victory. 

Susana Perez led the Eastern offense with two hits, a double, and three RBIs, while Chloe Rupe and Jania Long each went 2-for-3 from the dish with a pair of runs scored. Meghan Johnson and Elena Iannuzzelli both finished with a pair of RBIs. 

In the circle, Hailey Krichten earned her first collegiate victory. Over 4.2 frames, the first-year pitcher gave up seven hits and just two runs, neither of which were earned, while forcing 11 flyouts. Long also pitched efficiently in relief, allowing just three hits and one run in two innings of work. 

Rupe gave the Eagles the lead for good in the top of the second frame. After Long and Tori Hook led off the inning with back-to-back singles, Rupe hit an RBI base hit to left field, plating Long for the 1-0 advantage. Eastern added to its lead in the fourth on an Iannuzzelli bases-loaded walk and a two-run single from Perez, making it 4-0 heading into the fifth frame. 

The Eagles' offense continued to click on all cylinders in the fifth as four more runs scored to make it an 8-0 lead Eastern lead. Johnson started the rally with a two-run single down the right field line, Iannuzelli followed with a sacrifice fly to center field, and a Perez RBI double to right-center put the Eagles firmly in control. 

The Eagles dropped a back-and-forth contest in game one, falling to the Spartans 9-8 on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh inning. Long, Iannuzzelli, Perez, and Kelci Cost combined for 11 hits, six runs scored, and six RBIs. 

Eastern will be back at home on Tuesday afternoon for a non-conference doubleheader with regional rival Swarthmore. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 pm.