ST. DAVIDS, Pa.— With a 5-4 come-from-behind win on senior day Eastern University Baseball  (26-14, 10-11), gave themselves a hope of making a MAC Commonwealth Tournament. That hope, however, was dashed late as the team watched on the videoboard as the Hood College Blazers rallied from down a run in the bottom of the ninth to lock up a spot in the dance. Though the Eagles finished the year in a three-way tie for third, the head-to-head tiebreakers with York and Hood were against them. 

After dropping the opener by a 6-1 score the Eagles knew they needed to win and get help from Albright to earn a post-season spot. Widener, the second seed in the tournament, went up 2-0 in the first inning. Trent MacDougall led off the bottom of the first with his team-high 6th home run. Eastern's center fielder finishes his year with an impressive .408 batting average and 83 total bases. He set a new program record with 48 runs scored and finished tied with fellow senior Thomas Kozlusky for the single-season stolen base mark with 30.

The Pride (20-18, 13-8) tacked on single runs in the third and the fifth and seemed in control of the game. In the bottom of the fifth, the Eastern offense turned a MacDougall walk and two stolen bases into a two-out run. David Garrido pulled a ground ball through the left side for a clean single. 

Zachary Alfonso came on to work the top of the sixth. The rookie worked his way around a leadoff single with a strike out and a fly ball to right. JJ Matos then helped out his pitcher with a strong throw to second to eliminate a runner trying to steal.  

Ryan Alfonso started a rally with a one-out triple in the sixth. After a Justin DiCesare walk, Trevor Harris knocked in a run with a ground ball at the end of a lengthy at bat. As this was happening, Albright was making up ground at Hood. 

After Kozlusky reached on an infield single and stole two bags, the Lions were mounting a rally in Maryland. Garrido again delivered. The rookie utility player delivered a smash up the middle for his second RBI single af the game. Matos then singled to put runners on first and second. Garrido then scored what would be the game-winner with on a single up the middle from Justin Rodriguez. As Garrido slid headfirst across home, the livestats from Maryland showed Albright tying the game. 

Graham Adams came on for the eight and retired two hitters before giving up a walk on a lengthy at bat and a single to center field. Another walk loaded the bases, and Scott Renauro went to the bullpen again. Gage Curnane, a senior who had four appearances coming into this season came on for the tenth time this year. Byu this time, everyone in The Yard knew Albright was up. With no margin for error, Curnane threw one pitch and induced weak contact for a ground ball to first. He threw nine pitches int he ninth to earn his second career save. 

When the game ended, Albright had a runner on in the top of the ninth. That rally died, and the Eagles watched and waited. 

Coming into today, the Eagles controlled their own destiny completely. A series sweep over Widener would lock up the third seed. In a year and a league where sweeps are very rare, winning all three games against Widener was going to be a tough ask. The Pride got solid pitching and the benefit of five unearned runs early to build a 6-0 lead in the seven inning game. 

MacDougall drove in Harris in the fifth, but there would be no big rally. Though both teams had five hits in the game, the Pride had nearly all of them in two innings and made them count. 

The 12 men in the senior class honored before the game played a major role in helping the Eagles to go from a 10-30 team in 2023 to becoming a 26-win team this year. No Eastern team has won 25 games in a season since Eastern joined the NCAA in 1992. With the entire 2025 season on the road, their careers were not without adversity, but their commitment and consistency helped raise the level of the program. With talent in the classes behind them and a new facility, the class of 2026 was part of a major step forward. 

The program recognized, Luke Meehan, Leyton Bamesberger, Justin DiCesare, Thomas Kozlusky, Will Carroll, Gage Curnane, AJ Justis, Blake Weinseit, Ben Chiara, Anthony Cruz, Mike O'Rourke, and Trent MacDougall. 

Widener will host Hood and Messiah will host York in the upcoming MAC Commonwealth Tournament.