ASTON, Pa. - On a sunny, but cold day at MSI on Friday afternoon, Eastern Baseball started its 2024 campaign with a doubleheader sweep of Clarks Summit. John Beck started his senior season with a complete game gem, and the Eagles broke a 2-2 tie with three sixth-inning tallies to win the opener, 5-2. In game two, Sean Cottrell and Zackary Bollinger combined for a one-hit shutout and Eastern scored two runs in each the fourth, fifth, and sixth frames to shut out the Defenders 6-0.

Beck (1-0), coming off an All-MAC Commonwealth Second Team selection last spring, pitched brilliantly in the opener. The Butler, N.J. native struck out six batters on 76 pitches while inducing six flyouts and eight groundouts. Beck showed excellent command on his pitches in less than ideal weather conditions, and allowed just two runs, both of which were unearned.

In game two, Cottrell (1-0) was equally as effective, allowing just one hit, a single to right field in the first inning, while striking out three on 75 pitches. Bollinger pitched the final two innings, striking out two and not allowing a hit in a scoreless relief appearance.

"The three pitchers did very well today," Eastern Head Coach Scott Renauro said. "Beck was able to establish his fastball early and then compliment it with his breaking ball as the game went on. Sean was able to mix up his pitches from the start. For a pitching staff we walked one in 14 innings. If our staff continue to be in a zone like that they will always give us a chance."

In game one, second basemen Evan Barks got the scoring started for the Eagles in the third inning, After Connor Schilling hit a one-out double to center field and a deep flyout moved him to third, Barks followed with an infield single to plate Schilling for the 1-0 lead. Coming off a tremendous junior season in which he hit .419 and was named All-MAC Honorable Mention, the Elkton, Md. native went 4-for-7 on the afternoon with a double, two runs scored, and three RBI. Barks followed with another RBI single in the fifth, plating David Hunsberger for the 2-0 advantage.

Clarks Summit scored their only two runs of the day in the top of the sixth. After an error extended the inning, Tanner Smith laced a double to left field to tie the contest at 2-2.

Eastern, however, rallied right back, scoring the game-winning runs in the bottom half of the frame. First-year players Trent Macdougall and Robert Del Buono executed a perfect double steal to score the go-ahead run, before sophomore Leyton Bamesberger and Schilling added some insurance with an RBI triple and groundout, respectively.

The Eagles finished with nine hits in game one, two each from Barks and Macdougall. Hunsberger and Schilling each finished with a double and a run scored, while Bamesberger and Griffin Falco both hit triples.

Game two was scoreless after the first three innings, but the Eagles took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth. After Barks led off the inning with a single and Luke Meehan walked, another double steal, combined with a Clarks Summit throwing error, allowed Barks to score, putting the Eagles ahead 1-0. Bamesberger followed with his second extra-base hit of the day, this time a double to center field, to plate Meehan and double the Eastern advantage.

In the fifth, Barks hit an RBI double to deep left field to score Logan Klember from first base and later scored on another Clarks Summit miscue to increase Eastern's lead to 4-0. Klember added an insurance run on an RBI groundout in the sixth, and Bamesberger later scored on a Defenders' fielding error to secure the sweep. Barks finished 2-for-4 in game two with a pair of runs scored, while Hunsberger, Bamesberger, Klember, and Jason Hall each finished with one.

"Today was a very tough day to hit with the wind and how cold it was, but our guys battled through the elements and were able to capitalize when needed," Renauro said. "We ended up playing small ball more so than we have in the past, but that has been a focus this winter. We believe we are deep in many different positions."

Eastern (2-0) will next play in Myrtle Beach for Spring Break. They will play four games in South Carolina, beginning with Cabrini on Monday, Feb. 26 at 6:00 pm.