IMMMACULATA, Pa.— Eastern University Softball got outstanding pitching and just enough offense to earn a non-league sweep of a doubleheader at Immaculata University.
Emily Trzonkowski set a new program record with 16 strikeouts in a one-hit shutout in the opener, and the Eagles scored twice in the seventh inning to earn a 3-1 win in the nightcap.
Though the Eagles (15-5) did not score until the fourth inning in the opener, no Immaculata player had yet put a ball in play against Trzonkowski. Eastern's standout rookie struck out the first ten Mighty Mac hitters she faced.
After the Eagles plated four in the fourth inning, Trzonkowski struck out the first and third Immaculata hitters of the inning on either side of a foul ball popped up to
Sydney Ostolaza behind the plate. Trzonkowski, who had a no-hitter and a one-hitter in her eight wins coming into today, had her perfect game broken up with a single to right to start the fifth. She struck out two more hitters in the inning to keep her shutout going.
Immaculata put three balls in play in the final inning, but Trzonkowski's 16 strikeouts is tied for the second highest total in Division III this year and is a program record. Ashley Lewis struck out 13 hitters at Rosemont in March of 2016.
The Eagles scored their game-one runs on bad-to-back doubles from
Sydney Ostolaza and
Maryanna Nagle.
Dakota Owen knocked in a a run with an Rbi groundout and two more runs came home on an error to give Trzonkowski some cushion. In her last two starts, the rookie standout has struck out 26, allowed two hits, and not walked a batter.
The Mighty Macs (7-11) had a lot more traffic on the bases in the second game, but
Gia Gordon and
Bryn Clifford both worked out of jams to hold the hosts to just a single unearned run. Gordon struck out five hitters, allowed only two hits, and walked just one in 4.1 innings, but she left the game with the score tied at 1-1.
Clifford came into the game int he fifth with one out and two on. After the Mighty Macs loaded the bases with a bunt single, Clifford got a ground ball to short for an out at home and a ground ball back to the circle for another fielder's choice. Clifford had to work around a couple singles in the second, but she finally had a chance to pitch from ahead after the Eagles plated two on an
Ainsley O'Donnell single in the top of the seventh.
Clifford struck out two in 2.2 innings to earn the win.
The Eagles will host Stevenson University in MAC Commonwealth action on Thursday.
