BETHLEHEM, Pa.— The smallest margins made all the difference as Eastern University Softball saw its season come to a close with a 3-1 loss to the host Moravian University Greyhounds in the Regional Championship game. The Eagles (31-11) reached the championship by rallying through the loser's bracket.
Down 3-0 in the top of the sixth, the Eagles built a rally after a lead-off single from
Maeve Colligan. With two outs
Maura Yoos singled to center, and
Mackenzie Laub reached on an error to load the bases. In her first at bat of the Championship
Dakota Owen drew a bases-loaded walk to plate a run and force the Greyhounds into their bullpen.
Tori Hook worked an at bat, but Moravian standout Sarah DeStefano won the battle to force a ground out to end the rally.
Jania Long reached to start the seventh, but a line drive back to the circle turned into a game-ending double as DeStafano made a clean catch and quick throw. DeStafano earned the save and was named the Regional Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
After three scoreless innings, the Greyhounds struck first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Moravian rally started with a looping flare that landed on the first base line and turned into a leadoff double. After the runner advanced on a fly ball out, Eastern starter
Danika Barthol worked a two strike count before ultimately hitting Ajala Elmore. The Moravian clean-up hitter stole second and both runners scored on a solid single to center. That hit was one of the few hard-hit balls of the game for either side.
The Greyhounds added a run on a pair of soft singles and an error in the fifth.
Jania Long came on with a runner on second and struck out the final two Greyhounds. Barthol struck out five and allowed five in 4.1 innings. Long, who pitched the Eagles into the Championship with a complete-game shutout against Williams in the second elimination game allowed just one hit to close out the game.
Long,
Ainsley O'Donnell, and
Mackenzie Laub all earned All-Tournament Honors for the weekend.
Moravian will advance to the Super-Regional to take on Randolph-Macon College. Randolph-Macon upset Christopher Newport to win that Regional Tournament.
The two NCAA Tournaement wins are the first two in Eastern program history, and the 31 wins also sets a new program standard.
