LA GRANDE, Ore. – On a cold and rainy day, Concordia University Cavaliers defeated Eastern Oregon University Mountaineers, 8-3, in game one of Cascade Collegiate Conference action. Game two did not start because of weather and darkness.
Game One – The Cavaliers struck first and broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. With Meghan Luebbert on third base, Katie Aden hit a sacrifice fly to left field that scored Luebbert, putting Concordia ahead, 1-0.
Eastern Oregon answered back in the bottom of the first inning. With runners on second and third base, Katie Martell hit a sacrifice fly to center field, tying the game at 1-1. With one out and a runner on third, the next two Mountaineers went down and EOU left a runner on third base.
Concordia broke the tie game in the top of the second inning. With two runners on base, Lucy Baldovino hit into a fielder’s choice, which scored a run putting the Cavaliers ahead 2-1. Concordia continued to extend the lead in the top of the third inning. Concordia scored two runs on a Kate Santos RBI double. The Cavaliers scored two more on back-to-back fielder’s choices to extend Concordia’s lead to 6-1.
The Cavaliers continued add to its lead over the Mountaineers as in the top of the fourth Aden hit a solo home run to left field to extend the lead to 7-1.
The Mountaineers answered back in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, JoElla Smith walked and Martell followed with a two run homerun to left field putting EOU down four runs, 7-3. However, that was all the Mountaineers got in the fifth inning.
Concordia scored one more run in the top of the sixth inning. With a runner on first base, Santos took 3-2 to center field for a double, which scored a run and put Concordia on top, 8-3.
The Mountaineers looked as if they would start a rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Mariebeth Watanabe singled to center field. J. Smith followed with a single to second and advanced to second base on the throw to third base. However, the next two Eastern Oregon batters were retired to end the game.
Kate Santos led the Cavaliers with three hits and three RBIs. JoElla Smith and Mariebeth Watanabe led the Mountaineers with three hits, while Katie Martell recorded all three RBIs for the Mountaineers.
Game Two – The second game was not started and will be made up on another day if needed.
Concordia returns to action tomorrow when they travel to Caldwell, Idaho to face College of Idaho. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m. MT. Eastern Oregon returns to the field tomorrow at 11 a.m. tomorrow when they host Northwest.