LINCOLN, Calif. – Mountaineers Softball wrapped up its third day in California taking on the same opponents from the previous day in No. 17 Hope International and William Jessup. Eastern Oregon went 0-2 on the day falling 4-0 to the Royals and 6-1 to the Warriors. With the losses, EOU is now 6-5 on the year.
Game 1 - No. 17 Hope International 4, Eastern Oregon 0
How it Happened
• The Royals (12-6) relied on a defense that limited EOU to just two hits in seven innings after giving up eight the day prior. HIU did commit two errors, while EOU had a clean game.
• HIU racked up six hits in the win, scoring two runs in two different frames. The Royals' efforts allowed them to tie the series at 1-1 with the Mountaineers.
• The first two runs for the Royals came in the first inning. Back-to-back hits to start followed by two stolen bases got runners in scoring position. A deep single to center scored both runs.
• Defensively, HIU held EOU to just one hit in the first three frames to lead 1-0. They went 1-2-3 on the Mounties in the first two innings to stay in front 2-0.
• The Royals brought the score to its final, 4-0, in the third inning. EOU got two quick outs but a single followed by a home run from the Royals gave them the four-run advantage.
• EOU's only other hit in the game came in the seventh as they never managed to establish a rhythm. The Royals two errors came in the fourth and sixth.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
•
Grace Gaither tallied one hit in three at bats.
•
Kayla Berg also went 1-3 at the plate.
•
Mckenna Stallings (2-2) and
Amanda Smith each pitched three complete.
For the Royals
• Skyler Mao led the bats with a game-high four RBI, going 2-3 at the plate. She also scored a run.
• Makenna O'Toole also went 2-3 and scored a game-high two runs.
• Caitlyn Felina finished 1-3 and scored a run in the win.
• Allie Puente (7-1) picked up the win in the circle and had a game best 11 strikeouts.
Game 2 – William Jessup 6, Eastern Oregon 1
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers offense was unable to establish a rhythm in the second game as they mustered just two hits yet again. They played another clean game defensively with no errors.
• The Warriors' bats were stout in the win, tallying 11 hits for six runs. WJU (9-8) did have two errors defensively, but also hit three homers in the victory.
• For the game, EOU played well defensively allowing just one run in the first five innings. WJU opened the game up, exploding for five runs in the sixth to walk away with the five-run win.
• For the Mountaineers, their two hits did not come until the seventh inning. In the third, the Warriors grabbed the lead with a solo home run to center to go ahead 1-0.
• The score remained at 1-0 until the sixth inning. Six hits by the Warriors, including two for home runs, allowed them to tack on five runs for a 6-0 lead.
• An inside the park two-run homer down the left field line gave WJU a 3-0 lead. The Warriors then smack a double and back-to-back home runs in the next three at bats to lead 6-0.
•
Hannah Tyree hit a ground rule double to leadoff the seventh.
Allyson Bates pinch ran for her and got to third on an error before a single by
Kayla Berg scored her.
• EOU looked to rally on the two-out RBI single from Berg, but made nothing of it. A pop up to first closed the game at 6-1 and gave WJU the 1-1 split with Eastern.
Mountaineer Stat Leaders
•
Kayla Berg batted 1-3 in the game and tallied one RBI.
•
Hannah Tyree also went 1-3 at the plate.
•
Allyson Bates scored the lone run in the loss.
•
Abby Giles (1-1) suffered the loss. She fanned three batters in 4.1 innings pitched.
For the Warriors
• Maddy Ybarra was 3-4, with a home run, two RBI, and scored two runs.
• Maikyla Nelson went 1-3 with a homer, had two RBI and scored a run.
• Shay Trent also batted 1-3 with a home run, scored once, and had two RBI.
• Natalie Nash was a perfect 3-3 at the plate.
• Katie Blankenheim (5-3) pitched a complete game for the win and struck out four batters.
By the Numbers
2 - The Mountaineers split both of their series with the Warriors and Royals.
2 - Eastern was held to just two hits in both losses on Saturday.
11 - EOU had a season-high 11 batters strikeout in the loss to HIU.
7 -
Kayla Berg has registered at least one hit in seven consecutive games now.
Up Next
• Eastern wraps up its west coast trip and non-conference play tomorrow, Feb. 27, against Marymount California in a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 9 a.m. in game one, with game two set for an 11 a.m. start.
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