ATHERTON, Calif. – Mountaineers Softball got their California trip started on a positive note Thursday afternoon with a 2-0 sweep against the Menlo College Oaks. With the two wins, Eastern Oregon improves to 4-3 on the year.
Game 1 – Eastern Oregon 4, Menlo 3
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers tacked on four runs thanks to eight hits and had just one error on the day. EOU scored two runs in the fourth and fifth frame to secure the win.
• Defensively, EOU held the Oaks (4-12) to just five hits in the opener. Menlo did not have an error in the contest but scored no more than one run in any frame.
• The Oaks grabbed the game's first lead in the first inning. A leadoff hit got a runner on who ultimately stole home before EOU ended the frame to make it a 1-0 game to start.
• Eastern threatened to score in the third as two hits got runners on, but Menlo escaped the jam. Starter
Mckenna Stallings found her rhythm after the first and worked 1-2-3 frames in the second and third.
• In the top of the fourth, EOU went ahead, 2-1, thanks to a pair of deep hits.
Kayla Berg led off with a triple before a
Karsyn Zaragoza two RBI single to center scored her and pinch runner
Rhyanne Oates.
• Menlo tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on two hits. A one-out double got a runner on. A groundout and single to left ultimately scored the run to even things at 2-2.
• Eastern responded in the fifth, scoring its final two runs on the swing of berg.
Taylor Dow got on base with a single and scored immediately thanks to a Berg two-run homer to right field on the next at bat.
• EOU looked to add more runs in the fifth inning as they got two more runners on with one out. The Oaks then made a pitching change and escaped the jam to keep the score at 4-2.
• Menlo's final run of the day was scored in the sixth. The oaks forced a 1-2-3 frame to keep EOU at bay and looked to make the potential comeback.
• The oaks got two hits to start the inning before EOU made a pitching change.
Amanda Smith came in for Stallings, but back-to-back groundouts scored the run before EOU ended the frame.
• In the seventh, Menlo went three-up, three-down on defense to set up a potential walkoff opportunity. EOU held on though, throwing out a baserunner, while Smith fanned two batters to end the game.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
•
Kayla Berg paced the way with a game best two hits, a home run, and two RBI.
•
Taylor Dow went 1-4 at the plate and scored one run.
•
Karsyn Zaragoza batted 1-3 in the win with two RBI.
•
Mckenna Stallings (1-1) got the win and fanned three batters in five innings pitched.
•
Amanda Smith earned the save and had two strikeouts in a relief effort.
For the Oaks
• Elizabeth Wilson abetted 2-3 to lead the bats and scored two runs.
• Malia Johnson was 1-3 with an RBI. Hailey Roloff also went 1-3 and scored a run.
• Brianna Gonzalez pitched 6.2 innings and had a game-high four strikeouts in the no-decision.
Game 2 – Eastern Oregon 3, Menlo 2
How it Happened
• Eastern once again led the way in hitting in game two with five hits. The team also had a clean game defensively with no errors in the win.
• The Oaks finished with four hits in the one-run loss. Plaguing the Oaks in the contest though were two errors that led to a pair of unearned EOU runs.
• Both defenses came out strong to start as each side worked a 1-2-3 outing to move to the second. Eastern then had its bats come to life with a run scored on two quick hits.
•
Taylor Dow led off with a single before
Kayla Berg hit a double to put the two in scoring position.
Karsyn Zaragoza grounded out to second for the RBI to score Dow for the 1-0 lead.
• The Oaks answered in the bottom of the second, tying the game. A leadoff hit by pitch got a runner on and she advanced to third on a groundout and wild pitch. A single scored the run.
• Each side got a hit in the third and fourth, respectively, but made nothing of either chance. Knotted at 1-1, Menlo went ahead in the bottom of the fifth after working a 1-2-3 frame.
• A leadoff double put the Oaks in a good spot and the run ultimately scored thanks to a sacrifice bunt and an RBI groundout.
Amanda Smith came in after the double once again and limited the damage.
• Lady luck fell in the Mountaineers hands in the sixth as two errors by the Oaks scored their two runs, both unearned. EOU had help with a pair of hits in the frame to go ahead for good.
• Dow got on with a leadoff error by third. She scored on an RBI double from
Haley Ebner to tie the game at 2-2. Pinch runner
Caitlin Crist scored the next run as she stole third and came home on a throwing error from the catcher.
• Defense once again reigned supreme in the seventh. Menlo worked a 1-2-3 frame to set up another potential comeback. Smith and the Mounties dispatched of those hopes and went 1-2-3 to secure the sweep.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
•
Haley Ebner was a perfect 2-2 at the plate with one RBI and drew a walk.
•
Taylor Dow hit 1-3 and scored two runs in the win.
•
Kayla Berg and
Madison Stateler each tallied a hit in the contest.
•
Amanda Smith picked up the win to go to 3-2 after closing out the final three innings.
• Starter
Natalee Hall pitched four complete frames and had one strikeout.
For the Oaks
• Natalie Medina was 1-3 with an RBI.
• Jolena Velasquez batted 1-3 and scored a run.
• Vivian Valencia suffered the loss (2-2) in 3.2 innings of relief. She had a game-high four strikeouts.
By the Numbers
3 - Dating back to 2013, EOU has now won each of the last three contests against Menlo.
2 -
Kayla Berg hit her second home run of the season in game one.
0 - EOU had no errors in game two, which is their first clean game of the season.
1 -
Amanda Smith picked up her first save of the year in game one.
1 -
Mckenna Stallings also picked her first win of the season in game one.
Up Next
• EOU will face two different opponents tomorrow, Feb. 25, in William Jessup and No. 17 Hope International. Game one, against WJU, is set for a 12 p.m. start time. Game two vs. No. 17 HIU will begin at 4 p.m.
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