ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - On a gorgeous sunny day at the EU Softball Field on Tuesday, Eastern Softball split a non-conference doubleheader against the Arcadia Knights. The Eagles rode a four-run first inning en route to a 5-2 triumph in game one, but some late offense in game two for the Knights proved to be the difference in a 5-0 loss for the Eagles. It was the Eagles' first home setback of the season and just their fourth loss.
It took just one pitch for first-year outfielder
Ainsley O'Donnell to jumpstart the offense. The Moscow, Pa. native sent the first pitch she saw over the right field for her first collegiate home run to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. Following an
Alyssa Binczak single and a walk to
Jania Long, sophomore
Mackenzie Laub opened the game up with a three-run bomb to left-center, her first of the season, to push Eastern's advantage to 4-0.
The Eagles added to their lead in the third inning.
Tori Hook led off the frame with a single, and with two outs, senior catcher Susanna Perez punched a single up the middle, scoring pinch runner
Olivia Mattioli for Eastern's fifth run of the contest.
Danika Barthol (10-1), as she has throughout her rookie season, put together another strong performance for her 10th win of the season. The Emmaus product gave up just one hit and one walk in four innings of work while striking out two.
Arcadia did score two runs in the sixth to trim the Eastern lead, but
Bryn Clifford shut the door in the seventh to pick up her third save of the season. In the final three innings, Clifford gave up six hits but only two runs with one strikeout. O'Donnell, Binczak, and Hook each finished with three hits, while Laub and Perez combined for four RBIs.
It was a pitchers duel for the majority of game two, but the Knights pushed three runs across in the sixth to take a lead they would not relinquish. Senior Allie LaRochelle ended a 10-pitch at-bat with a two-run shot over the right-center field well, and junior Megan Klose followed with her fourth long ball of the season to put Arcadia up 3-0. The Knights added a pair of insurance runs in the seventh, and the Eastern offense was unable to mount a comeback attempt.
Hook finished 3-for-3 from the dish in game two, while Binczak, Long, and
Sophie Rollins each finished with one.
Eastern (21-4, 7-1) return to MAC Commonwealth play this weekend at Hood. First pitch in Frederick is scheduled for 1:00 pm.
