CLERMONT, Fla. - Eastern Softball recorded a pair of wins against two quality opponents on Monday on their second day of Spring Break.
Ainsley O'Donnell hit two triples and the Eagles collected 13 hits in a 5-1 win over LVC to begin the day, before using a seven-run third frame to come away with a 8-4 win over Alma College.
O'Donnell was tremendous in the leadoff spot, finishing the day with four hits, three of which were triples, three runs scored, and four RBI. In just three games, the junior centerfielder has the most triples for an Eagle in a single season since Ashton Tomlinson had four back in 2014. In the circle, first-year pitcher Emily Trzonkowsi (2-0) allowed just three hits with seven strikeouts against LVC in a complete game effort. Fellow first-year hurler
Gia Gordon picked up her first collegiate win with four strikeouts in 4.1 innings against the Scots.
Bryn Clifford earned her first save of the season, pitching the final 2.2 frames and allowing just four hits.
The Eagles opened their contest against the Dutchmen with bunt singles from O'Donnell and
Maura Yoos. Two batters later, first-year first baseman
Becca Taylor knocked her first collegiate run with a single to right field, scoring O'Donnell. LBC tied it up in the bottom of the first, but the Eagles took the lead back with three more runs in the second and third frames. After a leadoff double from
Sydney Ostolaza, first-year third baseman
Mackenzie Maki plated her with a single up the middle. O'Donnell followed with her first triple of the day, scoring
Alyssa Binczak from first base to give the Eagles a 3-1 lead. Ostolaza made it 4-1 in the third after singling home
Mackenzie Laub.
The Eagles added a big insurance run in the seventh to put the game away. After O'Donnell's second triple, Yoos drove her home with a single for her first RBI of the season. Trzonkowski went on to pitch a clean bottom of the seventh, securing her second win in as many days. The first-year allowed just seven baserunners.
O'Donnell finished with three hits in four at-bats and scored a pair of runs. Ostolaza was a perfect 3-for-3, while Yoos and Maki each collected a pair of knocks.
After a scoreless first two innings against Alma, the Scots struck first in the third frame on an RBI single from Julia Duncan. Alma had runners at second and third with two outs, but a Gordon strikeout ended the frame to keep it a one-run game.
The Eagles answered with their biggest inning of the day, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the third. Seven batters came to the plate before Alma recorded an out, and O'Donnell's third triple of the afternoon cleared the bases to put the Eagles ahead 7-1. Taylor and Laub each hit RBI singles, while Gordon helped out her own cause with a sacrifice fly. The Eagles added an insurance run in the fifth on a pinch hit sacrifice fly from
Grace O'Connor. The Scots scored two runs in the top of the seventh with a triple of their own, but would not get any closer.
Yoos finished with a pair of singles, while O'Donnell reached base safely three times. Laub also drove in a pair with a single in the win.
Eastern (3-0) will be back in action for two more games tomorrow. They will face off against Allegheny at 12:15 and Susquehanna at 2:30 pm.
