CHESTER, Pa.— Eastern University Softball scored late runs in both games to sweep their final regular-season doubleheader of the year at Widener.
Emily Trzonkowski scattered five hits and struck out 11 over seven innings to pick up a 6-0 win in the opener.
Bryn Clifford pitched all seven innings in relief in a 10-4 win in the nightcap.
With game one secured, the Eagles struggled out of the gate in game two. A tight zone and a patient Widener line-up had the Eagles down 2-0 before Clifford came into the game.
Sydney Ostolaza threw out a would-be base-stealer for the first out of the inning and Clifford escaped the jam with a strikeout and a ground out. The Eagles picked up a single tally in the second when
Hailey Burke singled home
Mackenzie Laub who had doubled.
Neither team scored through the middle part of the game. The Eagles finally tied the game on a bases-loaded RBI fielders choice from Burke in the top of the sixth. That run opened the floodgates for the Eastern offense.
Madisyn Saposnek doubled home a pair for a two run lead. Burke then slid under the tag for a run on a
Morgan Joseph bunt. Joseph reached second on the play and came home to score on a 2-RBI double from
Mackenzie Maki.
Up 7-2, Clifford worked around a lead-off walk in the sixth, and the Eagles bench created three runs in the top of the seventh.
Josie Leighton singled to start the rally.
Dakota Owen reached on an error before
Grace O'Connor doubled home a pair of runs.
Morgan Jones plated the final run with an RBI ground out.
The Pride scored twice in the seventh for the final score. After picking up two hits and reaching three times in game one,
Maura Yoos did not pick up a hit in game two for just the sixth time this season. Eastern's sophomore shortstop has 50 hits this year and is at 99 on her career. Her 50 hits has her tied with Maggie McGowan for second on Eastern's single-season list. McGowan scored a program-record 37 runs in 2012, Yoos scored twice and now has 36 this year.
Trzonkowski (15-0) continued her dominant first-year run. The Eagles have been perfect in opening games of doubleheaders. Today was her third double-digit strikeout performance of the year. She went over 100 on Wednesday and will head to the MAC Commonwealth Tournament with 114 strikeouts under her belt.
Saposnek homered to left center for what would turn out to be the only run the Eagles would need. Yoos drove in
Bella Herrera in the fifth and came in on a daring steal of home after a Maryanna reached ona. fielders choice.
The 3-0 lead was comfortable. Laub gave the side more cushion with a two-run double to the fence in right in the rop fo the seventh. Burke drove int he final run of the game with an infield single.
Messiah and Alvernia will play in Reading on Sunday. Across town, the Albright Lions will host Hood College. If Albright and Messiah sweep, the Lions will be the fourth seed. If Alvernia takes both games, Eastern would become the top seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament and the Golden Wolves would be the third seed. York has qualified for the tournament and will be third seed if Alvernia finishes at 7-7 or 6-8.
