Mountaineers Secure First Win in Day Two Split at NNU
EOU Sports Information
NAMPA, Idaho – Eastern Oregon University Softball wrapped up its four-game road series at Northwest Nazarene University Thursday afternoon. The Mountaineers split the day two doubleheader with a 7-6 win in game two to pick up their first win of the season. With the 1-1 split, EOU now sits at 1-5 for the season.
Game 1 – Northwest Nazarene 11, Eastern Oregon 3 (6 Innings)
The Mountaineers were outhit 13-6 by NNU (3-1) in the opening contest and had one error, while the home team had none. EOU managed to tack on three runs, but never scored more than in an inning. Helping the Nighthawks close the game out in six frames were multiple-run innings in the second, fifth, and sixth innings.
EOU managed to grab the game’s first lead, 1-0, thanks to the efforts of Jordan Henley. NNU gave up a leadoff walk to Alaina Wright and she got into scoring position by stealing second base. NNU then walked Haley Ebner before Henley hit a deep RBI single to right field that scored Wright.
NNU got a quartet of runners on base in the first and had a chance to tie the game, but EOU managed to pick off a runner and force a pair of outs to hold it 1-0 lead. The Nighthawks defense was quick to respond in the second working a 1-2-3 outing to get its bats back out.
In the bottom of the second, three hits and an EOU error helped NNU tack on four runs to go by three. A leadoff walk followed by the Eastern error got two runners on. A walk loaded the bases for NNU and a fielder’s choice brought in the Nighthawks first run and tied the contest at 1-1. NNU’s next at bat gave them the lead as a three-run shot over left field made it a 4-1 game.
The Mounties managed to get a run back in the top of the third on a two-out RBI double from Henley. The Nighthawks got outs in the first two at bats, but walked Makenzie Chambers and gave up a single to Ebner. Henley once again delivered with a double to plate home Chambers and cut NNU’s lead to 4-2.
The lead grew back to three runs for the Nighthawks in the bottom half of. Similar to what EOU did, NNU scored a run on a two-out double and extended their lead to 5-2. EOU got a pair of ground outs, but a walk followed by the double allowed the Nighthawks to score a run.
Neither team scored in the fourth, but both had the opportunity to. Kayla Berg hit a triple for the Mounties to get in scoring position but was left stranded. For the Nighthawks, back-to-back singles in the first two at bats got runners on, but fielder’s choices in the next two followed by a line out to second base ended the frame and kept the score at 5-2.
The Mountaineers final run came in the top of the fifth and it was once again Henley who got the RBI. Madison Stateler led off with a single and a sacrifice bunt got her to second. She made it to third base on a single from Ebner before a sacrifice fly to deep right field from Henley got Stateler home.
Three runs from the Nighthawks in the bottom of the fifth pushed their lead to 8-3. Four hits helped plate home the three runs. NNU then worked a 1-2-3 top of the sixth to get back out on offense quickly. NNU then got two runners on in the first three at bats before a three-run home run to right field ended the game at 11-3.
Jordan Henley led the EOU bats as she was a perfect 2-2 in the game and tallied three RBI. Haley Ebner also finished the game a perfect 2-2 and drew one walk. Madison Stateler went 1-3 and scored a run. Kayla Berg had one hit in three at bats, with her lone hit being a triple. Berg (0-2) got the start in the circle and went 1.2 innings. Alaina Wright and Makenzie Chamber both scored a run in game one. She finished with two strikeouts. Amanda Smith also had two strikeouts in 1.1 innings of relief work.
For the Nighthawks, Ivy Hommel had two hits in four at bats to go along with a game best five RBI, three runs scored, and a home run. Brittany Genuardi went 2-3 with two runs scored, a home run, and three RBI. She and Hommel both drew a walk. Emma Mulligan also had a pair of hits going 2-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Sidney Booth had the most hits for the game going a perfect 3-3. Jackie Vargas got the win in her start to improve to 1-0. She pitched four complete innings and struck out a game-high five batters.
Game 2 – Eastern Oregon 7, Northwest Nazarene 6
Game two was a low scoring affair until the final inning of action. When the two squads combined for 10 runs scored. NNU outhit EOU 11-7 but had two errors in the contest while EOU had a clean sheet. For the Mountaineers, all seven runs did not come until the final two innings of play, while the Nighthawks first two came in the third and the final four came in the seventh.
NNU got the game started with a 1-2-3 outing in the first two innings of, but was unable to score anything in that span as Eastern did not allow a hit in the first and only gave up two hits in the second frame. The first of the Nighthawks’ two errors came in the third as they allowed a Mountie to get on base on the leadoff. NNU managed to regroup and fanned the next three EOU batters to leave the runner stranded.
NNU scored its first run in the second at bat as Ivy Hommel hit a one-out solo home run to center field to end the scoreless drought. Leading by one, the Nighthawks next run came with the help of a hit by pitch and two singles to load the bases before an RBI walk pushed their lead to 2-0.
The Mountaineers first two hits of the game did not come until the fourth as Taylor Dow led off the inning with a double to deep center field. Jordan Henley followed her up with a single. Dow managed to get to third on the hit before being thrown out at home following a Henley steal of second. Despite the chances, NNU held EOU scoreless in the fourth to stay in front by two.
The score remained at 2-0 until the top of the sixth when EOU tacked on a run to cut its deficit to one. Henley got things started with a one-double to center and made it to third on a passed ball. NNU then got a strikeout on Mauger but a passed ball allowed her to get on base and brought Henley in for the unearned run.
The Mounties quickly ended the sixth inning with a 1-2-3 from Abby Giles. The bats for Eastern then had the best offensive output so far this season with six runs on four hits in the top of the seventh. EOU got help to start the innings as NNU gave up back-to-back walks to start the frame.
With two runners on, Kayla Berg delivered an RBI base hit to right and scored pinch runner Alaina Wright to tie the contest at 2-all. Glori Cheevers followed Berg up with a bunt to get on and advanced on the throw. A throwing error by NNU’s pitcher was costly as two runs came in for the Mountaineers and gave them their first lead of the game at 4-2.
Cheevers got to third on a sacrifice bunt from Giles before an RBI double from Dow scored her and extended the Mounties lead to three, 5-2. Haley Crudo got on from a walk and Jacie Howton plated her and Cheevers home with a double to right center. NNU finally closed out the inning but not before EOU pushed the lead to 7-2.
NNU made things interesting in the seventh scoring four runs on four hits to nearly mount the comeback, but ultimately fell short. A walk, double, and back-to-back singles in the first four at-bats by the Nighthawks allowed them to score two runs and cut the score to 7-4.
EOU was able to get the next two batters out before a wild pitch and a two RBI single to left scored the Nighthawks final two runs. It was the arm of Henley that ultimately ended the game as she threw out the baserunner looking to steal second. Howton made the catch and the tag to close out the game and secure the Mountaineers’ first win of the year.
Taylor Dow was 2-4 in the contest with an RBI and a run scored to lead EOU. Two of her hits for the game were doubles. Jordan Henley also went 2-4 and scored one run. She also had two stolen bases for the game. Jacie Howton tied the game-high in RBI with two and was 1-2 at the plate for the game. Kayla Berg was 1-1 in her lone at bat and had an RBI and scored one run.
Abby Giles picked the win in the circle in a relief effort to go to 1-0. She pitched 3.2 innings and struck out three batters. Ashton Kazmierski was credited the save as she closed out the seventh inning. It is her first save of the year. Makayla Mauger got the starting nod in the circle and went 1.2 innings pitched. She had two strikeouts for the day.
For the Nighthawks,
Maia McNicoll finished 2-4 with a run scored. Emilie Hernandez also went 2-4 and had one RBI. Ivy Hommel was 1-2 and hit a home run. She had two runs scored and an RBI. Ashley Bliss tied a game-high in RBI with two as a pinch hitter and finished 1-2 at the plate. Tori Hensley picked the loss in the circle to go to 1-1. She pitched one inning and had one strikeout. Sidney Booth pitched six complete in her start and had a game-high 10 strikeouts in
The Mountaineers have a quick turn around as they will head back to Idaho, this time to Caldwell for a three-team two-day pod series at College of Idaho Feb. 27-28. EOU will play a pair of games against C of I and Carroll College (Mont.), respectively. Day one action begins with EOU taking on C of I at 1p.m. PT and end the day against Carroll College at 3 p.m. PT. Day two will have the Mounties face the Saints first at 1 p.m. PT, followed by Yotes at 3 p.m. PT