HAPPY VALLEY, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University Softball team dropped their only game on the second day of the Northwest Cup as Simpson University defeated EOU, 13-5, in five innings on Saturday morning.
Haley Hess,
Samantha Scott,
Marisa Gonzalez and
Andrea Roeder all collected two hits apiece for EOU in the game.
Cassie Wendt led the Mountaineers with three runs batted in.
After a scoreless first inning, the Red Hawks broke the scoreless tie in the top of the second inning. With runners on the corners, Marisa Marmolejo hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring the first run of the game.
The Mountaineers' offense started to click in the bottom of the third inning. With runners on the corners, Wendt reached on a Red Hawk error, which scored one for EOU, tying the game at 1-1.
Shelby Baertsch singled to left center, scoring the second run for EOU to put EOU ahead 2-1. That would all EOU would get and after three innings of play EOU led Simpson, 2-1.
Simpson's offense came to life in the top of the fourth inning as they scored six runs on six hits. In the frame, Marmolejo recorded a two run double to right center. After the rally, and three and a half innings, Simpson led, 7-2.
The Mountaineers' offense could not get anything going in the fourth inning as they only picked up one hit.
The Red Hawks' offense continued where they left off and Simpson scored six runs on six hits, for the second straight inning. After the top of the fifth inning, Simpson led the Mountaineers 13-2.
The Mountaineers continued to battle in the bottom of the fifth inning. After back-to-back singles by Hess and Scott, Wendt hit a three run home run to left field. This was her first home run of the season. After the home run, Gonzalez singled through the left side forcing a Red Hawk pitching change. However, after the pitching change, the next three Mountaineers were retired. EOU dropped their second straight game, 13-5, to Simpson.
The Mountaineers return to action tomorrow, Sunday, Feb. 22 when they conclude the Northwest Cup with games against Carroll College and Great Falls.