Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 The Misericordia University softball team opened its Freedom Conference schedule with a split at Eastern, Tuesday.

Misericordia took the opener, 3-2, but dropped the nightcap, 7-4.

Sam Hare had a two-run homer in the opener and Megan Gowe drove in the winning run with a double in the fifth inning.

Bailee Schies worked six innings to earn the win while Alissa Steier picked up the save with a perfect seventh.

Melissa Parker drew a two-out walk in the second inning of game one and Hare followed with a two-run homer to left center to give MU a 2-1 lead.

Eastern tied it with runs in the bottom of the second and third innings.

In the top of the fifth, Melanie Quintanilla singled with one out and Whitney Ellenberg reached on a fielder's choice.  Gowe doubled off the left field fence to drive in Ellenberg with the go-ahead run.

In the nightcap, MU fell behind 7-0 before rallying for four runs in the top of the seventh.

Megan Hardy had three hits, including a three-run homer in the seventh, and Diana Kestenbaum added two hits.

Quintanilla had an RBI-double in the seventh.

MU is 6-8 overall and 1-1 in the Freedom and will travel to FDU-Florham, Saturday.