YORK, Pa. - In another road conference doubleheader on Sunday, Eastern Softball split a pair of contests with the York College Spartans in a battle between two of the top teams in the MAC Commonwealth. Eastern used a four-run sixth inning and another
Danika Barthol masterclass to win the opener 4-2, before the Spartans split the season series with a 5-3 victory in game two, ending the Eagles' win streak at 10 games.
In her biggest test of the season to date against a potent York lineup, Barthol (6-1) once again shined in the circle. The Emmaus product allowed just three hits and five total baserunners in another complete game gem, allowing just one earned run while striking out 10 Spartans. Barthol has recorded 10 or more punchouts in each of her first two starts against conference opponents this year.
In 45 innings pitched, the first-year pitcher has given up just 16 hits, nine walks, and two earned runs while leading the team in strikeouts with 54. Barthol also leads the Eagles in ERA (0.31), complete games (five), shutouts (two), and opposing batting average (.105).
It was a pitchers' duel in the game's early stages as Barthol and York sophomore Natalie Rietama kept both offenses in check heading into the fourth frame. Barthol struck out the side in the first, pitched a 1-2-3 third, and allowed just one hit in a scoreless second. But after the Eagles stranded runners on second and third with two outs in the fourth, the Spartans capitalized on their chance in the home half of the frame. With runners on second and third, a sacrifice fly from Alexis McDonaugh scored Gretchen Barstad, and a subsequent Eastern throwing error allowed Jordyn Woodling to score and put the Spartans ahead 2-0.
The Eagles, however, rallied in the sixth, scoring four runs before York recorded an out to take a lead they would not relinquish.
Mackenzie Laub began the rally with a walk, and
Tori Hook followed with a single up the middle to put runners on first and second.
Sydney Ostolaza, Eastern's top run producer, came through with a double down the left field line to score Laub and cut the Spartan's advantage in half.
Jania Long followed with a double of her own to right center field, plating both Hook and
Kellie O'Brien to give the Eagles the lead.
Kacie Noonan, who came into the game to pinch hit, delivered an RBI single down the right field line, scoring
Kenzie McClune to give the Eagles a little insurance.
Barthol finished the job, working around a one-out double in the sixth before tossing a perfect seventh to record her sixth win and clinch Eastern's third conference victory. Hook finished 2-for-4 from the dish with a run scored, while Ostolaza, Long, Noonan, and
Kelci Cost each finished with one hit apiece.
Eastern rallied again in the sixth inning of game two, scoring three runs in the frame to overcome a two-run deficit. Ostolaza tied the contest at 2-2 with her fourth home run of the season to left-center field, and after another double from Long,
Sophie Rollins followed with an RBI triple to right field to put the Eagles ahead 3-2. However, York answered back definitively in the bottom of the inning, countering with a three-run home run from Emma Wade to regain a 5-3 advantage. Eastern could not muster another comeback effort in the seventh as the Spartans held on to split the doubleheader. Six Eagles finished with one hit, while Ostolaza drove in two of Eastern's three runs. Ostolaza currently leads the team with 14 RBIs.
Eastern (14-3, 3-1) will be back in St. Davids on Tuesday for a non-conference doubleheader against Haverford College. First pitch at the EU Softball Field is scheduled for 3:00 pm.
