LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University was swept by Southern Oregon University on Senior Day at Peggy Anderson Field, Saturday Afternoon. The Raiders claimed game one, 6-4 before defeating EOU, 11-4, in game two.
Game One – The Raiders broke onto the scoreboard early in game one, as they recorded back to back singles to put two runners on base. Julia Willison was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out for the Raiders. Sierra Anderson followed with a two run RBI single to center field to put the Raiders on top, 2-0.
Southern Oregon added to its lead in the in the top of the second inning. With a runner on third base, Alexa Gonzalez hit a sacrifice fly to right field to extend the Raiders lead to 3-0. Southern Oregon continued to score as they plated two more in the inning. Tyler Burke reached on an error that scored one and Ashley Lowe followed with a two run RBI single to put the Raiders on top, 6-0.
Brianne Craig kept the Mountaineers’ bats quiet for the first three innings. In the fourth inning, Craig ran into a little trouble. After issuing a four pitch walk to Katie Martell, Stephanie Maestretti hit a two run home run to left center to trim the lead to 6-2. Cassie Wendt followed with a double to left center. However, the rally ended when Brittnee Carman-Rice lined into a double play. After four innings of play the Raiders lead 6-2.
After the Mountaineers scored their two runs in the fourth inning, both pitchers settled down for the remainder of the contest and neither team threatened to score for the rest of the game. Southern Oregon came away with a 6-2 game one victory over EOU.
Brianne Craig went all seven innings to earn her sixth win of the season and struck out seven Mountaineers. Lindsey Walchli picked up the loss for EOU as she went seven innings, allowing, six runs (two earned).
Game Two – Southern Oregon jumped out to a fast start in game two of the double header. The Raiders scored three runs in the top of the first inning as Willison singled home one run for Southern Oregon. Anderson reached on a throwing error by the Mountaineers, which scored Willison and extend the lead to 2-0. Megan Scherer drove home the third run of the inning with a double to left field and before the Mountaineers came to the plate they found themselves down 3.
Sydney White was locked in early against the Mountaineers as she retired EOU in order in the bottom of the first. Southern Oregon’s offense continued to click in the top of the second inning, as they scored seven runs to take a 10-0 lead. Southern’s offense was led by Willison who picked up a two run RBI double and a three run home run by Anderson.
Eastern Oregon started to trim into the lead of the Raiders in the bottom of the second inning. After a Maestretti walk, Cassie Wendt followed with a two run home run to center field to trim the Raiders lead to 10-2.
Both offenses went cold after the second inning as both teams combined for six hits until the bottom of the fifth inning. Andrea Roeder led off the inning with a bunt single and Mariebeth Watanabe reached first after being hit by a pitch. Nicole Redd sacrifice bunted both the runners over and with one out and runners on second and third base, Eastern Oregon tried to run a suicide squeeze but the bunt was missed and Andrea Roeder stole home and Mariebeth Watanabe stole third base. Maestretti followed with a single to right center to score Watanabe to put the Mountaineers down 10-4.
Southern Oregon got one of the two runs back in the top of the sixth inning when Willison hit a solo home run to left field to extend the Raiders lead to 11-4.
The Mountaineers did not threaten to score again in the contest and fell to Southern Oregon, 11-4.
Julia Willison and Ashley Lowe led the Raiders with three hits apiece in game two. Willison drove home a game high four runs in the contest. Brittnee Carman-Rice led EOU with two hits.
Eastern Oregon returns to action on Tuesday, April 15 when they host Walla Walla University at 1 p.m. at Peggy Anderson Field. Southern Oregon returns to action on April 15 when they travel to Eugene, Ore. to face Northwest Christian at 2 p.m.