ST. DAVIDS, Pa. - In a battle between the top two teams in the MAC Commonwealth, Eastern Softball earned a split with the Messiah Falcons on Senior Day. The Eagles took the opener, 5-2, before a late rally came up just short in a 2-1 loss in game two.

The Eagles (22-6, 9-3) scored all five of their runs in the first three innings of the opener, and Emily Trzonkowski (13-0) had another brilliant performance in the circle. The first-year remained undefeated, allowing just six hits and one earned run while striking out five in her ninth complete game effort of the season.

The offense was equally as efficient in game one, finishing with nine hits, four of which went for extra bases. Maryanna Nagle and Hailey Burke combined for four hits. With her double in the bottom of the fourth, Alyssa Binczak collected her 100th hit, while Bella Herrera recorded her first collegiate triple. Burke, Binczak and Sydney Ostolaza each drove in a run.

After a 1-2-3 inning from Trzonkowski to start the contest, the Eagles scored three time in the bottom of the first inning. Maura Yoos began the rally with a bunt single, before Nagle doubled to center field to put runners on second and third with nobody out. Ostolaza followed with an RBI single, scoring Yoos, and a fielding error by the Messiah catcher allowed Nagle to score as well, putting the Eagles up 2-0. Ostolaza, who advanced to third on the Messiah miscue, later scored on a wild pitch, putting the Eagles up by three runs.

Messiah (23-13, 11-1) answered back with a pair of runs in the top of the second. Ashley Bryant singled home Allie Book, and Josi Tolentino went on to score on an Eastern throwing error. Bryant reached third, but Trzonkowski struck out Ava Fair to keep the Falcons from tying it up.

The Eagles went on to score single runs in each of the second and third frames. Binczak's RBI groundout in the second scored Herrera, and Burke's RBI double in the third scored Nagle, pushing the Eastern advatange to 5-2.

Trzonkowski took control from there, allowing just two Messiah baserunners in the final four innings of play. Brielle Rosario reached in the top of the fifth, but was caught stealing, and Book reached in the top of the sixth, but did not reach second base. Trzonkowski pitched a clean seventh to secure her 13th win and hand Messiah their first conference loss of the season.

Despite a strong showing from Gia Gordon in game two, the Eastern offense could not muster anything until late in the contest. The Eagles had runners in scoring position in the second, third, and fourth innings, but could not take advantage. The Falcons scored a run in the first inning on an RBI single from Book and another in the fourth on an RBI single from Bryant.

The Eagles put together a late rally in the seventh inning. With two outs, Yoos singled home Mackenzie Laub to cut the lead to 2-1, and the Eagles loaded the bases after Nagle was hit by a pitch. However, a flyout to right field ended Eastern's comeback bid. Yoos finished with a pair of hits in the contest, while Binczak, Burke, and Morgan Joseph each finished with one.

Eastern will be back in action on Wednesday at DeSales for its final non-conference doubleheader of the season. First pitch is set for 4:00 pm.