SALISBURY, Md.– Eastern University Softball scored first, but the Eagles (30-8) saw their magical season come to an end with a 2-1 loss tot he Manhattanville University Valiants in in the first elimination game at the Salisbury University Regional.
Danika Barthol struck out seven and did not allow an earned run over six innings of work.
Ainsley O'Donnell battled her way to a walk to start the game. She moved to second on a ground ball to the right side and made it to third on a
Mackenzie Laub single through the left side. After Laub stole second,
Tori Hook poked a single to right field. O'Donnell scored, but a good throw from right caught Laub and the Valiants were able to limit the damage.
The Eastern offense mustered only two more hits against Manhattanville starter Charli Shinstine. The 2023 All-American from California kept the Eagles off-balance and struck out nine hitters.
Kelci Cost reached twice in the game. The senior center fielder was hit by a pitch in the second and beat out an infield single in the fifth.
That single came after the Valiants struck for a pair of runs int he bottom of the fourth. They scored the first run on an error and a double to center field.
Susana Perez made a throw back to third to get the hitter trying to take another base. Barthol struck out the next batter and had Valiant first baseman Rachel Coleman in a 1-2 hole. The junior from California hit a drive that cleared the fence in right-center by a few inches. That run would turn out to be the difference in the game.
Alyssa Binczak singled to start the sixth, but the Eagles ran into a bit of bad luck as Laub hit a hard line drive to the right side that led the second baseman toward first base. Her throw beat a diving Binczak to the bag and the Eagles would have to start over. Hook hit a hard line drive right at the shortstop for the final out of the inning.
Maeve Colligan drew a two-out walk in the seventh, but Shinstine worked out of danger to pick up her 67th and final career win.
With her 16 innings of work in the NCAA Regional, Barthol reached 154 strikeouts in 129 innings this year. She is currently second in Division III with a .60 earned run average. Her 16 wins is the most by an Eastern pitcher in a single season, and only Janelle Fair had more strikeouts in a season. Fair, Eastern's career leader in wins and strikeouts. Had 169 K's in 202 innings of work in 2013.
"I am really proud of these players and how far we have come," Head Coach
Terri Adams said after the game. "We came to very tough Regional and played two really close games. It hurts right now, but this was a valuable experience and this year has been a really big step forward for the program.
Manhattanville (32-12) fell to No. 11 Randolph-Macon, 6-4 in the second elimination game. The Yellow Jackets will play the Host Salisbury University Gulls in the Championship tomorrow.
