Despite a strong start the USU-Eastern Eagles were unable to keep pace with the Salt Lake Community College Bruins as they suffered a 12-4 loss in the opening round of the Scenic West Athletic Conference tournament Wednesday in Henderson, Nevada. Dropping to the one loss bracket, the season came to a close with a 11-4 loss to the College of Southern Idaho later in the evening.

Falling behind 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning in the tournament’s opener against Salt Lake, the Golden Eagles battled back to capture a 4-2 lead by the middle of the third frame. The Bruins’ offense awoke in the bottom of the third as they scored four. Salt Lake added runs in four of the next five innings, while blanking USU-Eastern to cruise to a victory.

The burst of offense for USU-Eastern came from the bat of freshman Trevor Clingman who ended with three RBI. After bringing in one run in the second inning, Clingman knocked a two RBI single through the right side of the field to score Austin Pitcher and Mitch Kay. Sophomore Austin Geurtsen recorded the team’s other RBI as he scored Clingman in the second inning with a single to left field.

Following the loss to Salt Lake, USU-Eastern dropped into the one-loss bracket where they faced CSI following their loss to Colorado Northwestern.

Freshman Trevor Sanders was charged with the loss despite pitching 6.1 solid innings from the starting role. Giving up five earned runs, Sanders logged nine strikeouts before being removed. Giving up just two runs entering the seventh inning.

Trailing 7-0 entering the eighth inning the Eagles put pressure on CSI by scoring four runs. Bennett Bradford, Ridge Nielson and Brandon Eyring all recorded one RBI a piece. As a team the offense struggled to produce as they finished with just two hits during the nine inning contest.

The loss brings an end to a productive season as USU-Eastern competed for a SWAC conference crown for the first time since rejoining the league following two years at the DII level. Rejoining the conference late last off-season, the team was not eligible to participate in post season play.