ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - On a gorgeous day at the EU Softball Field, Eastern Softball continued its historic season with a doubleheader sweep of the Albright Lions on Senior Day.The Eagles exploded for eight runs with two outs in the fifth frame of game one to win 9-1 via the mercy rule, before building an early advantage en route to a 5-2 win in game two. With the victories, Eastern needs just one win next weekend against Stevenson to secure the No. 1 seed in the upcoming MAC Commonwealth tournament.
Eastern recorded nine hits in the opener, seven of which came in their eight-run fifth frame.
Ainsley O'Donnell and
Mackenzie Laub each finished with a pair of hits, a run, and an RBI, while
Alyssa Binczak,
Tori Hook,
Sydney Ostolaza,
Kelci Cost, and
Sophie Rollins each finished with one. Rollins drove in two runs on a pinch-hit single, while Binczak and Hook also produced run-scoring base hits.
Danika Barthol (12-1) won her 12th straight start and her sixth straight conference appearance, notching five strikeouts while giving up five hits and just one earned run. The Emmaus product also recorded a pair of strikeouts in relief in game two, bringing her season total to 98.
Neither offense produced much in the first two-and-a-half frames, but a pair of Albright errors gave Eastern life in the bottom of the third. Cost hit an infield single and reached second base on a subsequent throwing error to begin the rally, and
Elena Iannuzzelli followed with a sacrifice bunt to put Cost at third with two outs. A routine grounder hit by Binczak was not fielded cleanly by the Albright infield, and Cost scored on the miscue to put Eastern ahead 1-0.
Albright answered in the fourth with an RBI single from Heather Pomante, but the Eastern offense found its groove one frame later. With two outs and O'Donnell on first after a single, Laub hit a first pitch double to right center field to score O'Donnell and put the Eagles ahead 2-1. Hook followed with an RBI single through the right side, and bases-loaded walks to
Susana Perez and
Maeve Colligan pushed Eastern's lead to 5-1. Rollins followed with a pinch-hit, two-run single through the right side of the Albright infield, O'Donnell hit an RBI double to shallow center field, and Binczak sealed the run-rule triumph with a single through the middle.
After a scoreless first, Colligan provided the first run for the Eagles in game two. Leading off the second, the sophomore launched her first home run of the season over the left field wall, putting the Eagles ahead 1-0.
Eastern added to its lead in the third. With the bases loaded,
Jania Long executed a perfect bunt to score
Kacie Noonan, and Rollins followed with her third RBI of the day with a single through the right side to make it 3-0 Eastern.
Long helped her own cause in the circle in the fifth frame. The junior hit a two-run shot, her fourth of the season, to left field to increase Eastern's lead to 5-0. Long (7-2) also earned her seventh win in the circle, pitching five scoreless innings with five strikeouts.
The Lions made a little push in the seventh, scoring a pair of runs with one out, but a big strikeout from
Bryn Clifford and a subsequent flyout to Rollins secured Eastern's doubleheader sweep. Noonan and Long each finished with two hits and a run scored, with Long driving in three runs.
As part of Senior Day festivities before the games, Cost, Iannuzzelli, and Perez were recognized for their contributions to Eastern Softball. All three played a major factor in Eastern's success, helping the program win 80 games, including both contests today, in their time with the program.
Eastern (25-4, 11-1) will be on the road Wednesday for a non-conference doubleleheader at DeSales. First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 pm.
