GAME ONE BOX GAME TWO BOX
CALDWELL, Idaho – The Eastern Oregon University softball team split its Cascade Collegiate Conference opening doubleheader with Northwest Christian Friday.
The Mountaineers (5-5, 1-1 CCC) played their first regular season game in 28 days, after cancelling eight games and rescheduling six other games due to inclement weather over the past month. NCU’s last game was 15 days ago. This matchup was originally scheduled to be in La Grande, but wet field conditions moved the game to The College of Idaho campus.
The Beacons ended a 12-game losing streak with a Game 1 victory. Northwest Christian got a pair of hits from Addy Hoskins and Amanda Reiss in the win. Hoskins was 2-for-3, while Reiss went 2-of-4. Gabby Stover was 1-for-2, with an RBI and a walk.
After a scoreless first two innings, the Beacons got on the scoreboard first in the top of the third. Megan Mazanec hit a double down the right field line, driving in Stover. NCU added a run an inning later when Stover singled to right field, bringing in Melissa Webster.
Eastern Oregon would score in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ashli Hughes doubled to right center field, and two batters later, Mariebeth Watanabe, would bring Hughes in with a single to center field.
The Beacons answered in the top of the seventh with a Reiss double to right center, bringing in Brooke Davis. Jenna Royce completed the save on the mound retiring three straight Mountaineer batters in the bottom half of the inning.
Royce threw three innings, allowing three hits and one earned run. Kalyssa Koontz picked up her first win on the mound. She pitched the first four innings, allowing four hits and no runs. Koontz struck out two batters and walked two.
The Mountaineers’ Alex Hillmick was credited with the loss after throwing a complete game, giving up 10 hits and a pair of earned runs. She struck out five batters and walked two. Hughes went 2-for-2, and Georgianna Kelly was 2-of-3.
Northwest Christian left 10 runners on base, while EOU stranded nine. Each team committed one error.
In Game 2, a Watanabe triple in the bottom of the fourth drove in the only run. The deep shot to left center brought in Hughes. Watanabe finished 2-for-3 at the plate.
Abby Barr shined on the mound for Eastern. The freshman threw a complete game, allowing only two hits and no runs. She struck out eight Beacons, while walking two. Barr tossed 88 pitches, 58 coming as strikes. Royce had the loss for NCU, allowing three hits in four innings.
Laynee Bevans went 1-for-2 for the Beacons (3-17, 1-1). The Mountaineers left nine batters on base after recording four hits. NCU stranded four base-runners. Northwest Christian committed two errors, while Eastern had no errors.
Both teams play on the same field Saturday, with the Beacons meeting The College of Idaho at 11 a.m. MT, and EOU facing Concordia at 3 p.m. MT. C of I and Concordia split their series Friday as well. Live stats are available for both doubleheaders Saturday.