PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Behind another masterclass in the circle from first-year Danika Barthol and some timely hitting in the third and fourth frames, Eastern Softball began its 2024 MAC Commonwealth Tournament Championship run with a 5-0 shutout victory over the Alvernia Golden Wolves on Thursday evening at Penn Park. Barthol pitched six brilliant innings of two-hit softball, and the Eastern offense recorded seven hits in the third and fourth frames to build a lead it would not relinquish.

Barthol (14-2) continued her brilliant season in her first postseason start. The Emmaus product struck out nine of the first 10 batters she faced, striking out the side in the first and third frames, while allowing just three total baserunners. Barthol increased her single season strikeout total to 118 and is now solidly third all-time for strikeouts in a single season. Her .64 WHIP is second in all of NCAA DIII, and her 0.57 ERA leads the MAC Commonwealth. 

After a quiet first two frames, Eastern found its offense in the third inning. Sophie Rollins started the rally with a perfectly executed bunt single, and Ainsley O'Donnell followed with a single of her own the middle of the infield. With two outs, Mackenzie Laub, Tori Hook, and Sydney Ostolaza hit back-to-back-to-back singles to take a 3-0 lead. 

The Eagles added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth. After Jania Long reached on a double and Maeve reached on a fielders choice, O'Donnell drove in Kellie O'Brien with a single, and Alyssa Binczak followed with a sacrifice fly to center field to push Eastern's advantage to 5-0.

Despite giving up doubles in the fifth and sixth, Barthol escaped both innings unscathed, and Long pitched a scoreless seventh to punch Eastern's ticket to the semifinal round. O'Donnell and Ostolaza each finished with a pair of hits, while Laub, Hook, Long, and Rollins each recorded one. 

Eastern (28-6) will begin tournament play tomorrow at 12 noon against the Messiah University Falcons. The winner will advance to the MAC Championship Tournament Championship game on Saturday afternoon.