OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Stevenson University softball team split a MAC Commonwealth doubleheader against Eastern on Sunday taking game one by an 11-10 score. Game two saw the Eagles (19-10, 7-5 MAC Commonwealth) defeat the Mustangs (18-13, 10-4 MAC Commonwealth) by a 12-3 score in five innings.
With one conference doubleheader left, Stevenson is in control of its own playoff chances, as the Mustangs can clinch a spot with a sweep or a win over Messiah this week.
Game one was a high scoring affair, as Stevenson had a 7-4 lead after three innings, only to see Eastern score five in the fourth to go up 9-7.
Trailing 10-7, Stevenson plated four runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead and the eventual win.
Eastern took a 3-0 lead in the top half of the first, before Stevenson got one back in the bottom of the frame as Megan Hamp singled to center scoring McKenzie Tobler.
In the second, Tobler singled to center scoring Rivers Edwards and Rebecca Henry to knot the score at 3. The Mustangs took the lead as Jordan Fangman doubled to center, scoring Tobler.
Eastern would tie the score again at 4-all, before Henry doubled to left in the bottom of the third to score Marissa Heuer to give the Mustangs a 5-4 lead. Kat Perea doubled to left to score Henry, with Tobler scoring Perea on a single to center to give Stevenson a 7-4 lead.
Trailing 10-7 in the sixth, Henry doubled to left to score Hamp and Katie Dainton to get the Mustangs within one at 10-9. Henry would tie the score, getting to home on a RBI double by Edwards. Edwards would score the game-winning run on a single by Tobler.
The two teams would combine for 33 hits. Henry finished the opener 4-for-4 with three runs scored and three RBI. Tobler and Fangman had three hits each, with Hamp, Heuer, Edwards and Perea each getting two.
Heuer got the win, moving to 11-5, striking out four and walking one.
In game two, Eastern built an 11-2 lead after three innings and never looked back.
Stevenson got two runs in the second as Edwards singled home Henry and Rebecca Maiorano. Maiorano would account for Stevenson's other run in the game, a sac fly to center scoring Tobler.
Hamp had two hits in the nightcap.
Jillian Haines took the loss, striking out one in 1.2 innings of work.
After the games, Stevenson honored Jenna Sadowski, Hamp, Perea and Fangman for senior day.
