LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University softball team was swept in a Cascade Collegiate Conference double header on Tuesday afternoon at Peggy Anderson Field. The Yotes took game one 14-1, in five innings and came back and took the lead in the top of the seventh inning to defeat EOU, 6-5, in game two.
Game One – The Yotes wasted little time breaking the game wide open. With two runners on base, Destiny Turner took a two strike pitch down the left field line for a double to score two runs putting College of Idaho on top, 2-0. College of Idaho was not done as McKensie Stanton singled through the left side to score two more for C of I to extend its lead to 4-0. The Yotes added one more in the top of the first inning to take a 5-0 lead before the Mountaineers came to the plate.
College of Idaho continued to add to its lead, and in the top of the second inning the Yotes started a two out rally. After back to back singles for C of I put two runners on base, Turner collected two more RBIs as she doubled to left center putting C of I on top 7-0.
Nickayla Skinner kept the Mountaineers bats quiet for most of the contest as she allowed one run and four hits to the Mountaineers in five innings of action. Eastern Oregon collected two of its four hits in the bottom of the second inning. Katie Martell doubled to right center to get the Mountaineers started. With one out, Stephanie Maestretti drove in Martell with an RBI single to right center to put EOU down 7-1.
The Mountaineers did not threaten again in the contest and the Yotes put up seven unanswered runs in the final three innings. Katie Rowe hit a two run home run in a four run fourth inning which helped extend the Yotes lead to 11-1 over EOU. College of Idaho added three more runs in the top of the fifth inning and defeated the Mountaineers, 14-1 in five innings.
Turner led the Yotes in game one as she collected four RBIs in the contest. Stanton led the Yotes offensive attack as she recorded three of the Yotes 18 hits in the contest.
Game Two – The Mountaineers and Yotes were locked in a tight contest during game two. College of Idaho broke onto the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning. Riliey Cullip stole second base and on the play Skinner stole home to put the Yotes ahead 1-0.
Eastern Oregon answered back in the bottom of second inning as Maestretti led off the inning with a home run tying the game at 1-1.
The Yotes broke the tie in the top of the third inning. With two outs, Rowe doubled down the right field line, which scored Ashley Van Horne from first base to put the Yotes on top 2-1.
College of Idaho held the 2-1 lead until the bottom of the fourth inning. With two outs the Mountaineers had two runners on base. Andrea Roeder reached base on a fielding error by the Yotes third baseman. After reaching Roeder stole second base, and Cassie Wendt stole home plate putting the Mountaineers on top 3-2. Mariebeth Watanabe followed with a single that scored Roeder on a throwing error by the Yotes catcher. After four innings EOU led 4-2.
The Mountaineers continued to hold its 4-2 lead until the top of the sixth inning. With one out and runners on second and third, Julia Henrie grounded out to first, which scored a runner from third to cut the Mountaineers lead to one, 4-3.
Eastern Oregon extended its lead back two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. With a runner on second base, Watanabe reached base on a throwing error by Rowe, which allowed Nicole Redd to score from second base putting EOU on top 5-3.
The Yotes mounted its comeback in the top of the seventh inning. With two runners on base, Rowe singled up the middle to score Van Horne from second base, cutting EOU’s lead to one run, 5-4. College of Idaho took the lead on a two run RBI double to right center by Stanton. Stanton’s two run double put C of I on top 6-5.
The Mountaineers collected one hit in the bottom of the seventh inning but could not get the runner off first base and the Mountaineers fell in game two, 6-5.
Van Horne led the Yotes 11 hit attack in game two, with three hits. A trio of Mountaineers collected two hits apiece.
Eastern Oregon returns to action tomorrow, when they travel to Spokane, Wash. to face Whitworth in a non-conference matchup. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. College of Idaho returns to action on Friday with a doubleheader against Corban starting at 2 p.m.