LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University softball offense was in full swing this afternoon against Walla Walla University. The Mountaineers swept the Wolves and scored them 28-2 in the doubleheader.
Prior to the doubleheader starting today, Eastern Oregon and Walla Walla finished off its suspended game from April 1. The game was suspended due to darkness with EOU leading 12-0 after three innings of play. The Mountaineers scored two runs in the top of the fourth inning and one in the top of the fifth to grow its lead to 15-0 over Walla Walla. The Wolves had no answer in either inning and dropped the game, 15-0.
In the first game scheduled for today, the Mountaineers jumped out of the gate in the bottom of the first inning. EOU scored three runs in the inning on three hits to take an early 3-0 lead over the Wolves. Katie Martell started the scoring for the Mountaineers as she doubled home JoElla Smith. Cassie Wendt hit a sacrifice fly to center putting the Mountaineers on top 2-0 and Gracie Flyg reached on an error to score the third run for EOU.
Lindsey Walchli kept the Wolves batters off balance as she only allowed one hit through her three innings of pitching. In the second inning, Walchli struck out the first two before getting the third out on a ground out.
Eastern Oregon added to its lead in the bottom of the second inning and grew its lead to 7-0. After back-to-back singles by Smith and Martell, Wendt hit a three run home run to left center to put the Mountaineers on top 6-0. Brittnee Carman-Rice followed with a single and advanced to second on a fielding error. Carman-Rice came around to score on a single by Walchli to center field putting EOU ahead 7-0.
The Mountaineers scored two more runs in the bottom of the third inning on two sacrifice flies. After three innings were complete EOU led Walla Walla 9-0.
Walla Walla scored its only two runs of the game in the top of the fifth inning. Morgan Malacara doubled to left field to lead off the inning for the Wolves. Andrie Iwasa laid down a sacrifice bunt to move her up, but the Mountaineers threw the ball away and Malacara scored. The Wolves scored one more run when Katie Wilson reached on a fielder’s choice that scored Jaci Shankel.
Eastern Oregon ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Taylor Smith led off the inning with a double to left center. She was driven home when Walchli doubled, which put the Mountaineers on top 10-2 and win by the Mercy Rule.
Cassie Wendt led the Mountaineers in game one with five RBI’s and Katie Martell and Lindsey Walchli recorded three hits apiece.
In the bottom of the first inning of game two, Eastern Oregon jumped all over the Wolves starting pitcher. Before the first out was recorded EOU held a 2-0 lead after JoElla Smith drove home Mariebeth Watanabe on a double down the left field line. Martell followed with a double to left to score J. Smtih. The third run came across after Carman-Rice singled to center field to score Martell. Georgianna Kelly recorded an RBI single to score one more and after the first inning of play EOU led 4-0.
Eastern Oregon blew the game open in the bottom of the second inning. The Mountaineers scored nine runs in the bottom of the second inning on seven hits. With EOU ahead 8-0 and two runners on base, Andrea Roeder hit a three run home run to left field to extend the Mountaineers lead to 11-0. EOU added two more runs in the inning with JoElla Smith and Martell hit back to back doubles to extend its lead to 13-0.
The Mountaineers kept the Wolves’ bats quiet in the second game as they only allowed four hits for the entire game.
Eastern Oregon continued to extend its lead in the bottom of the third inning as EOU scored four more runs on four hits. Alexa Taunton drove home Taylor Smith on an RBI single through the right side. EOU added two more runs in the frame and after three innings, their lead was 17-0.
EOU added one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning as Roeder drew a bases loaded walk to extend the Mountaineers lead to 18-0.
The Wolves had no answer and EOU took game two, 18-0 in five innings.
Andrea Roeder led the Mountaineers with four RBIs in the second game while JoElla Smtih and Katie Martell followed with three RBIs apiece.
Eastern Oregon returns to action on Friday, April 18 when they travel to Salem, Ore. to face Corban University. First pitch for Friday is scheduled for 2 p.m.