CORVALLIS, Ore. – After a dominant opening weekend to the 2024 CCC Softball Season, Eastern Oregon University was named the Under Armour Team of the Week for Feb. 26 – March 3, the Cascade Collegiate Conference announced Sunday.
Right off the bat, Eastern Oregon proved its going to be a force this season. They opened conference play with three strong games and two victories over Oregon Tech. OIT is ranked No. 1 in the CCC and NAIA preseason polls and are the reigning CCC Champions and NAIA runner up.
In game one on Saturday, EOU won 2-1 in a scoreless back and forth match until the 8th inning. Gates Leatherwood stepped up for her team right when the Mounties needed her most, with a walk off two run homer in her pinch hitting debut. In the circle, Kaylie Hoskins threw seven scoreless innings against OIT, striking out nine Owls.
The second game started yesterday with a fire four run first inning from the Mounties until the weather postponed the completion until today. EOU came out just as hot, adding a run in the second inning and five more in the fourth to run rule OIT, 10-0. Eight different Mounties recorded hits, led by Madelyn Durham who recorded two doubles, four RBIs, and a run. On the mound, Kylie Parsons only allowed two hits and struck out five Owls in a complete five inning shutout.
EOU outhit OIT 5-4 in the third game but fell by a tight final score of 3-1. It was another thrilling matchup that remained scoreless until the fifth inning when the Mounties added a run, thanks to a triple from Haley Tyree. All three Owl runs came off home runs late in the final inning.
EOU took the CCC series 2-1 and both wins marked the largest and smallest margin victories over OIT. The final nonconference game was canceled due to weather.
Next up, the Mounties will travel to Salem, Ore., to face Corban University on Friday and Saturday.