In game one, John Beck stifled the Albright offense, backed by stellar performances from Evan Barks and Connor Schilling. They powered Eastern to a convincing 6-0 win. The excitement continued in game two, where Eastern emerged victorious in a thrilling 2-1 showdown that extended to 12 innings.
The sweep of the Lions was crucial for Eastern's postseason aspirations, especially with Hood's simultaneous sweep of York. Looking ahead, if Eastern manages to sweep Stevenson next weekend and Alvernia wins its series against the Spartans, the Eagles would secure a spot in the MAC Commonwealth tournament for the first time since the 2021 season.
Evan Barks stood out as a key player in maintaining Eastern's playoff dreams. The Elkton, Md. native showcased his prowess by finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and two RBIs in the opener. His clutch performance continued in the second game, where he delivered the game-winning sacrifice bunt, highlighting his value to the team in critical moments.
Eastern (16-18, 7-11) will be back in action on Wednesday with a non-conference contest on the road against Penn State Berks. First pitch is scheduled for 3:30 pm.
