GRANTHAM, Pa.– In a battle for the top of the MAC Commonwealth standings, Eastern University Softball (24-6, 9-1) won the first game, 4-2, at Messiah, but the host Falcons (25-7, 11-1) used a big first inning to earn a 10-5 win in the nightcap and secure an important run-differential tiebreaker in the league standings.

With Danika Barthol in the circle for the opener, the Eagles scored twice in the top of the third. Emily Kurth drove in the opening run of the game with a single to right, and Tori Hook beat out a double-play attempt to drive in the second run.

In the bottom of the third, the Falcons grabbed a run back on a sacrifice fly to left. Sophie Rollins delivered a good throw on the play, but a creative slide eluded the tag and cut the Eastern lead to 2-1.

The Eagles added on in the fourth. After Sydney Ostolaza and Maura Yoos each singled and Alyssa Binczak took a pitch off the arm to load the bases, Mackenzie Laub put together the at bat of the game. Down 0-2 early, Eastern's right fielder fouled off several pitches to work a full count before driving a ball through the right side to score two runs.

That extra cushion proved to be important as the Falcons loaded the bases with one out in the seventh. Barthol won a battle for a strikeout, but a ball into the hole at shortstop turned into a Messiah run and put the winning run on. Binczak ran down a foul ball off the right field line to end the game.

Barthol struck out five to earn her tenth win of the year. Laub, Kurth, and Yoos each had two hits in the game, but the Eagles left nine runners on in the win.

In game two, the Falcons used creative base-running and a three-run homer to jump to a 6-0 lead. The hosts scored their runs on a leadoff walk and five hits. Bryn Clifford came on to retire the final hitter of the inning.

Facing Messiah's ace, the Eagles scored twice in both the second and third innings. The third-inning rally ended with the bases loaded. Ostolaza had a two-run double in the second, and the Eagles loaded the bases with one out in the third. Tori Hookjust missed a grand slam. Her drive to the fence in left drove in one run. Yoos singled down the right field line to bring in one more, but the rally ended with the Eagles down 6-4.

The Falcons scored a single run in the bottom of the third and added three more in the fourth to stretch the lead to 10-4.

Laub hit a lead-off home run in the seventh. Two more Eastern hitters reached, but there would be no miracle rally and the Falcons secured the five-run win.

Messiah has two more league games, and Eastern has four. Should the Falcons sweep Widener next Saturday, they would secure the top seed for the MAC Commonwealth tournament. Should the Falcons stumble in one of those games, the Eagles could secure the top seed with sweeps over Hood and Stevenson. Both Hood and Stevenson are in contention for spots in the MAC Commonwealth tournament.

Eastern will host Hood on Wednesday April 23.