LA GRANDE, Ore. – For the second straight day, the Eastern Oregon University softball team split their doubleheader. On Saturday, EOU split with Northwest. The Mountaineers took game one, 2-0, before falling in the second game, 5-4, to the Eagles.
Game One
Eastern Oregon and Northwest stayed locked in a close game for the opening innings of the game. After a scoreless first inning, the Eagles looked as if they would break onto the scoreboard first. In the top of the second inning, Northwest was able to get the bases loaded with one out. However, the Eagles could not get a run across as
Lindsey Walchli struck out one batter and had another ground into a fielder's choice, getting Eastern out of the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, EOU began to threaten the Eagles. With one out,
CeCe Pratt drew a walk.
Kaitlyn Reynolds followed with a single up the middle. The next Mountaineers came up to the plate and struck out. With two outs, and two runners on,
Haley Hess drew a walk to load the bases. EOU could not get a run across, however, as
Samantha Scott flew out to center field.
Walchli continued to shut down the Eagles as she allowed a leadoff single in the top of the third but retired the next three hitters.
EOU scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs,
Shelby Baertsch hit the second pitch of her at-bat, and drove it over the center field fence, for a solo homerun and the first run of the game.
EOU added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two runners on Scott singled to center field, scoring one, putting EOU ahead, 2-0.
Over the last four innings of the contest, Walchli kept the Eagles' bats quiet as she only allowed two hits for the remainder of the game. EOU came away with a 2-0 victory over Northwest. Walchli picked up her seventh win of the season.
Game Two
After a scoreless inning and a half, in the second game, the Mountaineers scored the first run of the game.
Gracie Flyg reached on a throwing error and proceeded to steal second base. With Flyg on second Reynolds singled up the middle, which scored Flyg, putting EOU ahead 1-0.
In the top of the third, Northwest scored their first run of the day. With two outs, Katelyn Riedinger stepped into the box. She took the first pitch she saw and hit a home run down the left field line, for her third home run of the season, and tying the game at 1-1.
EOU answered in the bottom of the third inning. After the first two Mountaineers were retired, Baertsch hit her second home run of the day, putting the Mountaineers back on top, 2-1. EOU was not done as Flyg followed with a single. Pratt followed Flyg's single with a double to left field that scored Flyg from first base. EOU led 3-1 after three innings.
The game remained 3-1 until the top of the fifth inning. In the frame, the Eagles' offense came to life. Northwest scored four runs, on four hits, taking a 5-3 lead over EOU. Riedinger recorded an RBI single, Ricki Tacdol collected a sacrifice fly and Janey Ganta hit a two run single in the frame to lead the Eagles.
Eastern Oregon continued to battle and scored their fourth run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Cassie Wendt doubled to left field to start off the inning. On a ground out she advanced to third base. After the next Mountaineer was retired, Wendt stood on third with two outs. Flyg singled to the pitcher scoring Wendt and trimming the lead down to 5-4.
The Eagles continued to lead by one, 5-4, going to the bottom of the seventh inning. Wendt and
Marisa Gonzalez hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. After an Eagles pitching change, Baertsch flew out. Flyg singled to right field and Wendt tried to score from second base, however, she was thrown out at the plate and EOU still trailed by one with runners on the corners. EOU could not get the tying run across the plate and EOU fell in game two, 5-4.
Eastern Oregon returns to action on Wednesday, March 25 when they host Whitworth in a doubleheader, starting at 10 a.m. Northwest returns to action on March 23 when they host Oregon Tech.