Happy Valley, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University softball team split games on day one of the Northwest Cup. EOU started the day with a 17-13 victory over the University of British Columbia before being defeated, 6-1, by Simpson University in the night cap.
Game One
The Mountaineers' offense came to life in the first game of the season as they scored 17 runs on 19 hits. EOU scored in five of the seven innings of the contest. EOU struggled on the mound in game one as they walked 12 batters.
EOU's offense came out firing in the top of the first inning, as they scored five runs to open the game. After EOU scored one run on a throwing error,
Cassie Wendt put EOU ahead 3-0 as she hit a two-run double to right center. The Mountaineers went on to add two more runs to the board as they took advantage of two wild pitches from the Thunderbirds.
British Columbia slowly started to chip away at the Mountaineers' lead during their first at bat. In the bottom of the first, the Thunderbirds answered back with three runs. Then they held the Mountaineers scoreless in the top of the second inning before answering back with three more runs, in the bottom of the second inning to taking a 6-5 lead over EOU.
EOU answered back in the top of the third inning, as they put up three runs on three hits. With the bases loaded,
Haley Hess grounded out scoring a run tying the game at 6-6. Later in the inning,
Samantha Scott singled to center field, scoring two, putting EOU ahead, 8-6.
The Thunderbirds came back and tied the game in the bottom of the third inning as they scored two runs on two hits and after three complete innings, EOU and British Columbia were tied at 8-8.
EOU retook the lead in the top of the fourth inning. With a runner on third base,
Gracie Flyg hit a sacrifice fly putting EOU ahead, 9-8. EOU added another run on a single by
Corinna Maestas. Going to the bottom of the fourth, EOU held the Thunderbirds scoreless and after four innings EOU led, 10-8.
The Mountaineers offense remained hot in the fifth inning. With one out, the Mountaineers recorded back to back hits to put two runners on base. With two runners on,
Marisa Gonzalez hit a three run home run to right center extending the Mountaineers lead to 13-8.
EOU added to their lead in the top of the sixth inning. EOU recorded four runs on five hits. With runners on second and third, Scott doubled to left field, which scored two. Scott advanced to third on a wild pitch and Wendt drew a walk to put two runners on base. Gonzalez doubled to right field, scoring Scott and Wendt, putting EOU ahead, 17-8.
British Columbia answered back in the bottom of the sixth inning as they scored two runs, trimming EOU's lead down to 17-10. The Thunderbirds kept the Mountaineers scoreless in top of the seventh inning and in the bottom of the inning looked to mount a comeback. However, the comeback came up short as they only scored three runs and EOU came away with a 17-13 victory.
Scott led the Mountaineers with four hits and four runs batted in. Gonzalez led the team with five RBIs in the game.
Game Two
In the second game of the day for the Mountaineers, EOU fell, 6-1, to Simpson.
Lindsey Walchli pitched a complete game giving up six runs, three earned.
In the bottom of the first inning, the Mountaineers looked to break onto the scoreboard. With two outs, and a runner on first, Wendt singled to put two runners on. However, the Mountaineers threat was ended when the Red Hawks struck out the next batter for EOU.
Simpson broke the scoreless tie in the top of the second inning. The Red Hawks took advantage of a Mountaineer error and scored two runs on two hits, taking a 2-0 lead. After a one, two, three bottom of the second, Simpson added two more runs extending their lead to 4-0.
The Red Hawks pitcher, Paris Hallums kept the Mountaineers' bats, which collected 19 hits in their earlier game, quiet as she only allowed six hits in seven innings. Simpson continued to add to their lead and in the top of the sixth inning added two more runs, taking a 6-0 lead over EOU.
The Mountaineers added one run in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two runners on and two outs, a double by Scott to left center scored one, trimming Simpson's lead to 6-1. That would be as close as the Mountaineers got as they dropped the game 6-1.
Scott and Wendt lead the Mountaineer with two hits apiece against Simpson.
EOU returns to action tomorrow, Saturday, Feb. 21 when they play Simpson University at 11 a.m.