EOU Sweeps College of Idaho
EOU swept College of Idaho for the first time since 2010
By Travis Rae, EOU Sports Information Director
LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University softball team swept College of Idaho, 3-1 and 10-2, in Cascade Collegiate Conference action on Wednesday afternoon. This is the first sweep of College of Idaho since, April 15, 2010 for the Mountaineers.
Game One (EOU 3 College of Idaho 1)
In a low scoring game, runs were at a premium on Wednesday, in the first game, and EOU scored the first runs of the game. In the bottom of the first inning,
Shelby Baertsch singled to left field to get EOU started. After the second out of the inning,
Marisa Gonzalez hit a two run home run to left field putting EOU ahead 2-0.
Lindsey Walchli kept the Yotes off balance at the plate, only allowing one runner on base for the first three innings of the game. In the first three innings, she did not allow a hit and struck out four.
EOU added to their lead in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded
Samantha Scott singled down the left field line, scoring one, putting EOU ahead 3-0.
Walchli continued to pitch well as she retired the first two hitters in the fourth inning on ground outs. Katie Rowe collected the first hit of the game, for the Yotes, as she singled to shortstop. She advanced to second on an Alexis Macias walk. Chelsea Szymanski singled to right, scoring Rowe, and trimming EOU's lead to 3-1.
The Mountaineers looked as if they had an answer in the bottom of the fourth inning.
CeCe Pratt doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a bunt single by
Haley Hess. EOU had runners on the corners with one out, however, the next EOU hitter hit into a double play, ending the inning.
Neither team threatened again until the top of the seventh inning when the Yotes looked as if they would get to Walchli. Macias singled up the middle to get the inning started. With one out and Macias on first, Rickey Kamimae singled through the left side. That would be all the Yotes we get in the inning as Walchli recorded a strike out and a ground out to end the game. EOU took game one, 3-1.
Walchli picked up the win for EOU as she pitched a complete game, only allowing five hits and one run while striking out six.
Game Two (EOU 10 College of Idaho 2)
Both teams' offenses started off slow in the second game as both teams combined for two hits in the first two innings. The lack of hits did not stop the Mountaineers from breaking the scoreless tie. In the bottom of the second, EOU loaded the bases on two hit by pitches and a walk. With the bases loaded, EOU scored the first run on a Yote wild pitch.
Corinna Maestas drew a walk to load the bases again for EOU. Hess and Baertsch followed with back-to-back walks putting EOU ahead, 3-0 after two innings of play.
The Yotes answered back in the top of the third inning. With runners on second and third, Rowe singled to center field, scoring one, trimming EOU's lead to 3-1. Macias followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, scoring the second run for College of Idaho in the inning. After the inning was complete EOU led, 3-2.
Eastern Oregon added two runs in the bottom of the inning, stretching their lead back to three runs, 5-2. EOU took advantage of fielding and throwing errors by the Yotes, as both runs EOU scored were results of College of Idaho errors.
After a 1-2-3 top of the fourth inning, the Mountaineers continued to add to their lead. With one on and one out, Gonzalez hit her second home run of the day extending EOU's lead to 7-2. EOU was not done as EOU scored on an error by the Yotes right fielder and on a wild pitch. Heading to the fifth inning EOU led 9-2.
College of Idaho looked as if they were threatening in the top of the fifth inning. Destiney Campbell singled and Destiny Turner followed with a walk putting two runners on base. However, EOU pitcher
Ashley Driscoll, recorded a double play and induced a pop out to end the inning.
EOU came up to bat in the bottom of the fifth and the first two hitters were retired. With two outs,
Cassie Wendt hit a home run to left center, which ended the game by the mercy rule. EOU took game two, 10-2, in five innings.
Eastern Oregon returns to action on Friday, April 10 when they travel to Kirkland, Wash. to face Northwest University. The Yotes are back in action on Friday when they play at Concordia.