MELBOURNE, Fla. - On a sunny and clear day in Florida, Eastern Softball began its 2024 season with a two-game split. Eastern used a three-run first inning, strong pitching, and two crucial insurance runs in the seventh frame to beat Rose-Hulman 6-2 in the opener. In game two, despite an excellent debut from first-year pitcher Danika Barthol, the Eagles' failed to cross home plate in a 1-0 loss to Alma College.

Eastern led from the onset in the opener, scoring three runs in the first inning to take a lead it would not relinquish. First-year outfielder Ainsley O'Donnell started the rally with her first career hit to center, before a sacrifice bunt from sophomore Alyssa Binczak and a single from junior Tori Hook put runners on the corner with one out. A wild pitch scored Hook to put the Eagles ahead 1-0, before a two-out, bases-clearing double from sophomore Sydney Ostolaza increased Eastern's advantage to 3-0.

Jania Long (1-0) did her part in the circle, earning her first win of the season with a scoreless opening day start, The junior hurler allowed just three hits while inducing seven flyouts and two groundouts in three innings of work.

Rose-Hulman (2-2) cut the Eastern lead to one on a fielding error and a sacrifice fly from Caledonia Coleman in the bottom of the fourth inning, but sophomore Bryn Clifford escaped the jam with two straight flyouts to keep the Eagles ahead by one run. Clifford was brilliant the rest of the way, allowing just two baserunners in the final three innings to record her first save of the season.

Eastern pulled back ahead by two runs in the fifth frame. Junior Sophie Rollins started the inning with a triple to left field, and a Kelci Cost RBI groundout increased the Eagles' lead to 4-2. In the seventh, first-year players Kenzie McClune and Dakota Owen recorded RBI singles to right field to push Eastern's advantage to four runs and ultimately secure the win. Eight different Eagles recorded a hit with Ostolaza driving in a pair of runs. 

Barthol, a first-year pitcher from Emmaus, had an excellent collegiate debut against Alma in game two, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking six in a complete-game effort. Furthermore, Barthol recorded 12 flyouts and three groundouts in a pitchers' duel. Alma scored its lone run of the game on a wild pitch in the fourth inning. 

The Eagles, however, could not solve Morgan Westall, who allowed just five baserunners while striking out four in her third win of the season. Eastern had their chances, putting runners on second and third with two outs in both the second and fifth frames, but were unable to produce any runs. Hook and Ostolaza collected Eastern's only two hits in the contest.

Eastern (1-1) will be back in action for day two of its Spring Break trip. The Eagles will face off against Grove City College at 12:15 pm and Rose-Hulman again later in the afternoon at 4:45 pm.