Softball Field

The Softball Field went through many changes while on campus. Many improvements were made in 1974 and again in 1998, while new bleachers were purchased in 2000 by the Student Government Association. However, In 2018, extensive flooding throughout the area caused flooding on campus and especially the fields, and the softball season had to be cancelled when the top layer of soil was stripped and most of the sand washed away. In 2019, the softball season was played without a home field while the softball field reconstruction took place. A new field made of turf was added by 2019, flipped 180 degrees and including drainage and irrigation along with new dugouts and backstops.

In 1973, softball was being played on the soccer field. There were improvements made to the softball field in 1974 and the Spotlight (student newspaper) bemoaned the inadequacy of the new softball field. For many years, softball continued to be played on the soccer field.

Women’s softball, for many years, was within the NAIA conference, then a move was made to join the NCAA conference. This required substantial changes to the softball field, requiring a skinned (dirt) infield and a perimeter fence. The softball seasons on 1997 and 1998 were skipped in order to complete the field in the required manner. In September of 2000, new bleachers for the softball field were purchased by the Student Government Association. In the Waltonian in 2003, there are multiple complaints of the softball field being squishy with poor drainage and that the scoreboard still says Eastern College instead of Eastern University.

In 2018, extensive flooding throughout the area caused flooding on campus and especially the fields, and the softball season had to be cancelled when the top layer of soil was stripped and most of the sand washed away. In 2019, the softball season was played without a home field while the softball field reconstruction took place. Athletic director Eric McNelly prioritized restoration of the softball field and made some changes. The field was flipped 180 degrees, drainage and irrigation was added. New dugouts and backstops were added. In 2023, pitcher Jania Long pitched the only no-hitter game in Eastern’s history.

"Athletic Fields." Folder in Eastern University Archives. Located at Warner Memorial Library, St. Davids, PA, 19087.

"Athletic Fields Needed." The Spotlight. Volume 21, Issue 13. May 6, 1974. https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=ea76379f-3855-4c05-9d40-099882bc532b/easa0000/20110817/00000359

"SGA Update: Facing New Challenges." The Waltonian. Volume 2, Issue 1. September 13, 2000. https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=fc939b89-3753-40ae-8e8c-1b3f77ac7a27/easa0000/20110817/00000628

"Ballfields hit hard by winter weather woes." The Waltonian. Volume 4, Issue 13. April 9, 2003. https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=fc939b89-3753-40ae-8e8c-1b3f77ac7a27/easa0000/20110817/00000666

"Athletic facilities in disrepair." The Waltonian. Volume 5, Issue 6. November 12, 2003. https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=fc939b89-3753-40ae-8e8c-1b3f77ac7a27/easa0000/20110817/00000673

"Flood Wreaks Havoc in Wayne." The Waltonian. Volume 20, Issue 1. September 12, 2018. https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=fc939b89-3753-40ae-8e8c-1b3f77ac7a27/easa0000/20240807/00000058

"McNelley Oversees Improvements." EASTERN. Spring 2019. https://rescarta.eastern.edu/ResCarta-Web/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=7fe9e3b2-b8ce-4bec-bf47-6a6f95c26465/easa0000/20240723/00000065

"Long Throws No-Hitter in Doubleheader Sweep of Widener." April 14, 2023. https://goeasterneagles.com/news/2023/4/14/softball-long-throws-no-hitter-in-eagles-doubleheader-sweep-of-widener.aspx