LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University softball team won a pair of one run games to sweep the Eagles of Northwest University Sunday Afternoon at Peggy Anderson Field.
Game One – JoElla Smith put the Mountaineers on top of the Eagles early in game one. In the bottom of the first inning, Smith took the first pitch of the at bat out to left field for a solo home run to put the Mountaineers on top 1-0.
After the run for Eastern Oregon, both teams’ pitching picked it up as both teams combined for three hits from the second inning until the top of the sixth inning. In the top of the sixth, Northwest’s offense began to click. With two outs, the Eagles started to mount a rally. The Eagles registered back-to-back-to-back singles. The third single by Brittany Bovard drove home a run tying the game at 1-1.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the seventh inning, where the Mountaineers broke the tie game. Mariebeth Watanabe doubled down the left field line and J. Smith followed with a double to left field to score Watanabe to give EOU the 2-1 win over Northwest.
Lindsey Walchli picked up the win for EOU as she went 7 innings, allowing one run on five hits and striking out nine. Kelli Peckham picked up the loss going six innings and allowing two runs. JoElla Smith picked up both RBIs for EOU in the contest.
Game Two – Walchli and Kierston Perry kept both offenses quiet for the first two innings. Both offenses were only able to muster two hits in the first two innings.
The Eagles offense was the first to click into gear in game two. With runners on first and second and two outs, Katelin Lewis doubled to left field to score both runners and put the Eagles ahead 2-0.
Eastern Oregon slowly started to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the third inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Brittnee Carman-Rice worked the count to a full count and drew a bases loaded walk to score one for EOU and put EOU down 2-1. The threat was ended as the next two Mountaineers were retired.
Northwest added to its lead in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, Mallory Tacdol hit a solo home run to left field to extend the Eagles lead to 3-1.
The Mountaineers would not go away quietly as they mounted a comeback in the bottom of the fourth inning. Andrea Roeder started the inning off for the Mountaineers with a bunt single. Once on base she stole second base. Watanabe followed with a single to right center that scored Roeder putting the Mountaineers down one run, 3-2. Once on base, Watanabe stole second base and advanced to third on a passed ball. Katie Martell drove in Watanabe with a single to right field to tie the game at 3-3. The Mountaineers continued to threaten and after a Stephanie Maestretti walk, EOU had two runners on base with one out. However, the next two Mountaineers struck out to end the inning.
Northwest broke the tie game in the top of the fifth inning. With a runner on second base and two outs, Alyssa Gonzalez doubled to left field to put the Eagles back on top 4-3. Eastern Oregon answered back in the bottom of the sixth inning. With two runners on base, J. Smith singled to center scoring Georgianna Kelly to tie the game at 4-4.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the sixth inning. Maestretti led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second base on a Cassie Wendt sacrifice bunt. After the next Mountaineer fouled out to first base, Gracie Flyg doubled down the left field line, scoring Maestretti from second base to put the Mountaineers on top, 5-4.
Northwest looked as if they were going to threaten in the top of the seventh inning as they got two on base. However, Walchli settled down and retired the next two batters and EOU won game two, 5-4.
Mariebeth Watanabe led the Mountaineers at the plate in game two as she was 3-for-4. Mallory Tacdol led the Eagles with two hits.
Northwest returns to action on April 11 when they host Northwest Christian. Eastern Oregon returns to action tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. when they play Concordia in the second game of the doubleheader that was rained out on Saturday.