UBC Takes 2 of 3 Road Games Over Mountaineers 4/14/2018 7:57:27 PM LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon softball team fell in back-to-back close games against Cascade Collegiate Conference opponent British Columbia, but responded with a 3-1 victory in the final game of the series on Saturday at Peggy Anderson Field. GAME 1 - British Columbia 4, Eastern Oregon 3 The Mountaineers (20-13, 14-6 CCC) got off to a 1-0 lead in the opening game of the series on Friday before rain halted it after two innings. The game resumed on Saturday, with the Thunderbirds (10-19, 7-12 CCC) grabbing a 2-1 lead in the third on two unearned runs. The Blue and Gold answered with two more runs on a two-run home run by junior outfielder Bobbi Bertsch, her fourth of the season. EOU held the 3-2 lead behind a strong performance by senior pitcher Hailey Kline, until UBC scored two runs in the sixth on a two-RBI single by Sydney Brown. The Mounties put runners on in both the sixth and seventh inning, but were unable to scratch across the tying run. EOU outhit the Thunderbirds 9-6, with two hit days by Bertsch and junior Sarah Bonner, who hit her first home run as a Mountie in the second inning. GAME 2 - British Columbia 11, Eastern Oregon 5 (9 Innings) The Mountaineers looked in control to win the second game of the series after a four-run fifth inning to take a 5-0 lead. However, UBC scored one run in the sixth before tying the game up in the seventh with four more runs. The big hit of the inning came off the bat of Michaela Moore, who drove home the tying two runs. Both teams were held scoreless until the ninth inning when UBC took a stranglehold of the game with six runs. In the inning, the Thunderbirds tallied just three hits, but were helped out by three EOU errors. Bonner put the Mounties on the board first with an RBI groundout in the fourth inning. Then in the fifth, senior third baseman Chelsea Spanier drove home junior catcher Brandi Bowling with an RBI single, followed by junior first baseman Shevan Defreitas’ team-leading eighth home run, a three-run shot that put EOU up 5-0. Sophomore pitcher Ashton Kazmierski pitched a great game for EOU, throwing six innings while allowing just one unearned run. UBC’s Zoe Gillis pitched a complete game, allowing five runs over nine innings pitched. Sydney Brown went 4-for-5 at the dish for the Thunderbirds while Claire Eccles had three RBI. GAME 3 – Eastern Oregon 3, British Columbia 1 The Blue and Gold got a standout start from junior pitcher Lauren Spencer who, after finishing game two, was nearly untouchable in a complete game 3-1 victory over UBC in the final game of the series. Spencer (4-3) threw her first complete game as a Mountaineer, allowing one unearned run on just three hits. The junior pitched to her defense well, getting 11 of the 21 outs on the ground. After falling behind 1-0 in the second, the Mounties took the only lead of the game they would need on a two-RBI single by Defreitas. In the fifth inning, freshman Julie Hernandez scored an insurance run on a wild pitch after pinch running. British Columbia’s Chantelle Twynstra also pitched a complete game allowing three runs, two earned, over six innings. Defreitas led the EOU offense in the three games, tallying four hits with five RBI. Bertsch went 3-for-9 at the plate with two RBI while senior outfielder/second baseman Maryssa Santi had three hits and two runs scored. The Blue and Gold have two more regular season series remaining, battling two of the top-ranked teams in the NAIA. First, they will visit No. 13-ranked Corban on April 20 and 21 in Salem, Oregon, for their last road series. Then, they will end the regular season at home on April 27 and 28 against No. 9-ranked Southern Oregon. The final day will be also be Senior Day. For more information on Eastern Oregon softball, follow @EOUAthletics or visit eousports.com. FOLLOW EOU ATHLETICS Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube Contact: Iain Dexter; 541-962-3946; idexter@eou.edu