CALDWELL, Idaho - Playing what was supposed to be its home opener on the campus of the College of Idaho wasn't ideal for the Eastern Oregon University softball team, but it didn't stop the Mountaineers from overcoming a seven-run deficit in game two to take down Great Falls in extra innings and earn the twinbill split with the Argos.
GAME TWO
EOU 13, Great Falls 12 (Nine Innings)
EOU (6-12) overcame a seven-run deficit and saw junior designated player Lauren Burchak belt the winning hit in the bottom of the ninth inning to help the Mountaineers claim game two, 13-12.
The Navy and Gold amassed 19 hits on the day, just two shy of tying the school record.
Senior first baseman Marisa Gonzalez tallied four hits, one homer, and three RBI, while senior shortstop Haley Hess, junior right fielder Cheyenne Barker, and sophomore second baseman Maryssa Santi added three hits apiece. Barker also tied a school record with four runs on the afternoon.
In the circle, junior pitcher Haylie Van Laethem collected the victory after tossing the final three innings and compelling the Argos to only two hits.
After Great Falls (7-5) blasted out of the gates with six runs in the top of the first, EOU fired back a two run-homer by Gonzalez to left field.
EOU tacked on another run in the bottom of the third thanks to another hit by Burchak, and the Mountaineers added two more runs in the fifth to make it a one run (6-5) ball game. Barker plated a run on a double to left field, and she later crossed home plate thanks to a fielding error by Great Falls.
After going five innings without scoring, the Argos erupted for six runs in the top of the sixth stanza to extend their lead to seven (12-5). The Mountaineers used three different pitchers to get through the inning.
With the momentum completely in the hands of Great Falls, EOU stunned the Argos with seven runs and seven hits in the bottom half of the sixth to knot the wild affair at 12 apiece. With the bases loaded, junior left fielder Taylor Turner started the rally with a two-run single, and then both Barker and Gonzalez followed with RBI singles to make it a three-run (12-9) battle. Baertsch mustered a bases-loaded single to cut the deficit to two (12-10), and then Santi came in with the clutch two-run single to tie the game at 12 all.
EOU had a chance to win in the seventh with the bases loaded, but Great Falls managed to force a fly out to end the inning.
The next inning and a half saw two hits between the two teams, but EOU put two runners on in the bottom of the ninth to give itself another chance to win. That's when Burchak stepped to the plate and delivered the game-winning single, as Barker advanced home on a bobble by the center fielder to cap the frenetic comeback.
GAME ONE
Great Falls 7, EOU 2
The Mountaineers came up flat in game one and posted only five hits on the day en route to suffering a 7-2 setback.
Burchak launched a two-run bomb in the sixth inning to lead EOU at the plate, but it wasn't enough. Turner, Hess, Gonzalez, and junior catcher Haylee Hathorn belted one hit apiece.
Van Laethem recorded three strikeouts and forced 13 groundouts in the losing effort.
Great Falls posted 11 hits and seven runs in the first six innings to break the game open, but Burchak put EOU on the board in the bottom of the sixth via a homer to left field.
Hess gave EOU hope in the seventh with a two-out triple, but the Argos notched the final out to keep the Mountaineers at bay.
UP NEXT
EOU takes on Carroll College tomorrow at Symms Field in Caldwell, Idaho. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. MT. Live game updates will be available via Twitter.