St. David's, Pa. (April 27, 2023) -  Eastern University () scored six unanswered to take a come-from-behind 8-5 win over Alvernia University () on Thursday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth softball action at Eastern.

Thursday's game was the conclusion of the conference doubleheader that began yesterday. Eastern took game one on Wednesday and then took game two for the series sweep.

The Golden Wolves led 5-2 through the top of the sixth before Eastern put up a six spot to swing the lead and momentum in its direction. Eastern then held Alvernia to one base runner in the top of the seventh to secure the 8-5 win.

Alvernia was held hitless in the top of the first. After having the first two batters retired in the bottom of the first, Eastern put two runners on with a single and a walk. But, Ashlyn Hillanbrand got out of the early jam in the circle by forcing an infield single.

Meryn Bellacima recorded Alvernia's first hit of the day with a one-out single to left field. Brooke Weister then reached on a single through the right side to put two on with one out. The Eagles then got Bellacima on a fielder's choice at third on Devon Hudson's at-bat to record their second out. Paige Paciolla then drove in Alvernia's first run of the game on a single up the middle to score Weister. Alvernia's final batter was then retired as the Golden Wolves took a 1-0 lead into the bottom half of the second.

Eastern evened it up at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. The Eagles loaded the bases on back-to-back single to center field, and a one-out walk. Sam Britton then stepped up with the bases loaded and one out and hit a sac fly to left field. Alvernia then retired the next batter on a fly out to right field to end the threat.

Alvernia retook the lead in the top of the fourth. Brooke Weister hit a hard hit ball to left field. As Weister headed to third, the left fielder struggled to pick up the ball against the wall. As the left fielder continued to struggle to pick up the ball, Weister took off for home to give Alvernia the 2-1 lead.

Alvernia tacked on one in the top of the fifth to make it a 3-1 game through the top of the fifth. Alexia Fitzgerald led off the inning with a single that stayed just inside the right field line. After Fitzgerald advanced to second on a wild pitch, she came around to score on a Julie Burkhardt single to left.

The Eagles got one back on back-to-back doubles to lead off the bottom of the fifth. Eastern continued to threaten throughout the inning, but Alvernia was able to get out of a bases loaded jam to maintain a 3-2 lead going into the sixth.

Alvernia added two insurance runs in the top of the sixth to extend its lead to 5-2. Hudson doubled, Paciolla walked, and Maggie Loomis singled to load the bases. Hudson then scored on a passed ball, and Fitzgerald drove in Paciolla on a sac fly to right to give the Golden Wolves a 5-2 advantage.

But, Alvernia's lead did not last long. Eastern got within one on a two-run double, and evened it up at 5-5 on a passed ball. The Eagles then took a 6-5 lead on an RBI single, and capped off the inning with a two run homer that was smashed over the left center fence to make it an 8-5 game.

Alvernia put its lead off runner on in the top of the seventh, but never threatened from there as Eastern took the 8-5 win.

Weister, Hudson, and Paciolla finished with two hits each for Alvernia.

Alvernia needs to sweep Widener on Saturday and pick up some help from York in order to make the MAC Commonwealth tournament.