LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. - The No. 10 ranked Mountaineers kept their championship aspirations alive on Wednesday, staging a remarkable comeback and clinching a 3-2 walk-off victory over the No. 25 ranked Southeastern Fire.
After two innings of scoreless softball, Eastern Oregon struck first when Addison Ribordy smacked a single down the left field line, allowing Maddy Stateler to cross home plate and put the Mounties ahead by one run.
Southeastern responded in the third, with Lauren Sekinger capitalizing on a throwing error to tie the game at one run apiece.
The game remained tied with Southeastern knocking at the door in the top of the sixth, loading the bases and threatening to take a late lead. Kaylie Hoskins remained composed for the Mounties, picking up her eighth strikeout against Chapel Cunningham to get out of the bases-loaded jam.
The Fire continued to ignite offensively in the seventh, breaking the tie with an RBI single down the left field line from Riley Sanders.
With the season on the line, Madelyn Durham singled to the pitcher, allowing Grace Spencer to score the game-saving run on a pitcher throwing error. Haley Tyree then stepped up to the plate, delivering the RBI single in order for the Mounties to survive and advance to see another day.
Key Performers
EOU
SEU
- Autumn Hunter: 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 SO
- Riley Sanders: 2-4, 1 RBI
The Mountaineers will prepare for their rematch with Georgia Gwinnett, set to start at 12 p.m. ET. Eastern will need to defeat the Grizzlies twice to advance to the 2024 NAIA Softball World Series.