FREDERICK, Md.– Eastern University Baseball scored in each of the team's final four at bats, but the Eagles were never able to find the big inning to overcome an 8-1 deficit in a 9-6 loss to the Hood College Blazers. The Eagles, playing for a series sweep, had the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth.
The road-weary Eagles (12-19, 5-10) batted last on the road for the third conference game this year. With construction at The Yard the Eagles have been away from home for all 31 games this spring.
The Eastern defense made plays early on to keep things tight.
Joe Paradise converted an unassisted double -play at first with bases loaded in the first frame, and
Leyton Bamesberger had a slick turn on a 6-4-3 double-play to end the second. The Blazers scored in the first, but the Eagles tied the game on a good squeeze bunt from Paradise in the bottom of the second.
Hood added single tallies in the third and fourth before scoring five runs on five hits in the sixth.
Thomas Koslusky and
Robert Del Buono singled to start the bottom of the sixth. Koslusky scored on a
Luke Meehan sacrifice fly, but the Eagles could not push another run across. For the afternoon , All seven Eastern hits were singles.
The Eagles scored two more in the seventh, but both RBIs came on outs, and there would be no big inning.
Jaden Taylor singled and scored in the eighth, but the Eastern rally ended with runners on second and third.
After the Blazers used a two-out triple to grab an insurance run in the ninth, the Eagles again loaded the bases. Koslusky scored on a bases-loaded walk, but there would be no two-out miracle as Hood reliever AJ Haines won the battle for a final strikeout.
Roy Corso went two scoreless innings late to keep the game within reach. The Blazers (10-21, 6-9) finished the day with 12 hits, including two doubles and a triple.
The Eagles will start their season series with Messiah on Thursday afternoon. The series will conclude with Eastern hosting the MAC Commonwealth leaders at Trenton Thunder Stadium on Saturday.
