ALLENTOWN, Pa. – The Cedar Crest College softball team opened its home slate with a 15-9 loss to Eastern University on Wednesday afternoon at Cynthia L. Blaschak Field.

The visitors put up one run in the first inning to take the early advantage. Freshman Jania Long (Deptford, N.J.) drove in the first run with a single through the right side.

The lead didn't last long as the Falcons plated three in the bottom of the frame. Graduate student Riley Tremblay (Allentown, Pa./Parkland) hit a two-run homer to left field and then senior Delaney VanBuskirk (Bridgeville, Del./Woodbridge) connected on a base knock through the right side, scoring graduate student Nicole Santaniello (Kissimmee, Fla./Osceola).

The teams traded a pair of runs in the third inning before the Eagles scored eight runs over the three innings to build a six run lead, 11-5.

Cedar Crest tacked on a pair in the fifth on a double from Santaniello and a sacrifice bunt from junior Renee Snyder (Allentown, Pa./Parkland).

The Falcons recorded another two runs in the sixth. Senior Rachel Savini (Wilmington, Del./Delaware Military Academy) drove in a run with a single to right field while Tremblay reached on an error, scoring Savini.

Cedar Crest recorded another two runs in the sixth, starting with a single to right field from Savini. The senior would later score on a fielding error to make it an 11-9 game heading into the final inning of regulation.

Eastern answered back with four of its own in the seventh, three of which came on a home run to left center from Long. Earlier in the frame, sophomore Susana Perez (Miami, Fla.) singled to left field, scoring senior Sami Britton (Tinton Falls, N.J.).

Freshman Jania Long (Deptford, Pa.) picked up the win, tossing five innings. She allowed seven runs on eight hits to go along with three strikeouts and two walks.

Cedar Crest senior starter Lillian Boltz (Levittown, Pa./Pennsbury) surrendered 11 runs (nine earned) on 10 hits over 4.1 innings in defeat.

Cedar Crest (4-5 overall) will stay at home and welcome in Muhlenberg College for a doubleheader on Thursday, March 24 beginning at 3:00 p.m. Eastern (7-5 overall) will return home for a conference doubleheader against Messiah University on Saturday, March 26 starting at 1:00 p.m.

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