EOU Softball's Season Ends at NAIA Championships in 1-0 Loss to Tabor 5/15/2018 9:27:37 PM OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The thrilling run for the Eastern Oregon softball team came to an end Tuesday night after a 1-0 loss to Tabor in the Oklahoma City Bracket of the NAIA Championships Opening Round at Ann Lacy Stadium. The Mountaineers finish the season with a 26-24 record after making their second trip to nationals in the last 12 years. The Blue and Gold used three-straight victories in the Cascade Conference Championships to earn the CCC’s second automatic bid to the national tournament. “I am so proud of everything we have accomplished this year as a team,” said head coach Erin Dickhausen. “The seniors left big shoes to fill.” Tuesday’s only run was scored in the top of the fourth inning as the Blue Jays brought a runner home on an EOU error. In her final start of her collegiate career, senior pitcher Hailey Kline was business as usual with a dominant six innings. Kline allowed one unearned run, which was scored without giving up a Tabor hit in the inning. The senior struck out eight batters over six innings and finishes the season with a 16-10 record and 1.89 earned run average. The Eastern Oregon offense ran into two dominant pitchers in the tournament. Tabor’s Madison Byrd faced just four batters over the minimum, allowing two hits and a walk with five strikeouts. The Mountaineers best scoring chances of the game came in the third, fourth and seventh innings. In the third, junior catcher Brandi Bowling reached second base on a Tabor error with no outs, but advanced no further. Senior outfielder Maryssa Santi led off the fourth with a single and advanced to second on a bunt, but again was left stranded. The Mountaineers got their third runner in scoring position in the seventh inning after a leadoff single by junior first baseman Shevan Defreitas. Pinch runner Julie Hernandez also reached second base on a sacrifice bunt, but EOU was unable to get the big hit to bring her home. The Blue and Gold’s exciting season included an 11-game winning streak during the regular season, three all-conference selections in Kline, Defreitas and senior third baseman Chelsea Spanier and a trip to the national tournament. The Mounties will say farewell to their four senior leaders in Santi, Kline, Spanier and senior shortstop Lena Richards. In 50 games, Santi, Spanier and Richards combined to start in all but three games in the top-four spots of the order while Kline started in the circle for 25 games. 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