ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - In a non-conference doubleheader on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon, Eastern Softball split a pair of games with the Swarthmore Garnet. The Eagles (13-3) rode another strong start from Danika Barthol and three late runs to win the opener, 4-1. Swarthmore (7-7) countered with a 4-0 win in game two, riding a three-run first inning and an excellent showing from in the circle from Lilly Goldberg.

After a scoreless top of the first, the Eagles struck first in the bottom half of the frame. With two outs and Alyssa Binczak, first-year Emily Kurth ripped an RBI single through the left side to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead. It was the 11th straight game that the Toms River, N.J. native recorded an RBI, and it increased her hitting streak to 14 games. Kurth currently leads the Eagles in batting average (.460), hits (23), doubles (six), and RBIs (19).

Swarthmore answered back in the third, taking advantage of an Eastern fielding error. With two outs, an RBI single from reigning Centennial Conference Player of the Week Avery McClure knotted the score up at 1-1. The Garnet threatened in the top of the fifth after a pair of one-out singles put two runners on, but a popup and Barthol's fourth strikeout of the day ended the threat and kept the game tied.

In the bottom of the fifth, sophomore Ainsley O'Donnell came through with the game-winning hit. Kacie Noonan and Sophie Rollins singled to start the inning, and a successful sacrifice from Maura Yoos advanced to second and third. O'Donnell then roped a double to right field, scoring both Noonan and Rollins to put the Eagles ahead 3-1.

Kurth added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, scoring on a wild pitch, and Barthol slammed the door in the seventh, working around a pair of two-out singles to lift Eastern to its 13th win of the year.

Barthol (5-1) earned her fifth win of the season, giving up seven hits and one unearned runs with four strikeouts in a complete game victory. Kurth and O'Donnell each finished 2-for-3 and combined for three RBIs. Noonan, Rollins, and Tori Hook each collected one hit in the win.

The Garnet scored three runs in the first inning of game two, taking advantage of a pair of Eastern errors. Swarthmore third baseman Catherine Heflin added an insurance run on an RBI groundout in the fourth. Despite having seven hits and runners in scoring position in the third and fifth innings, the Eagles were unable to convert that into runs. It was the first shutout loss for the Eagles this season. Goldberg finished wit the complete game win for the Garnet, striking out seven.

The Eagles will be back home Sunday for a huge MAC Commonwealth doubleheader against York College, who they beat to win their first ever tournament championship last May. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 pm.