The Eastern Oregon University softball team will be “Going Green” this weekend for its games against Oregon Tech and Southern Oregon.
The Mountaineers, with the help of the EOU SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) club, are wearing green shirts before their games. The shirts are provided by SIFE and go-along with the Eastern Oregon University athletic shirt saying, “Go Green and Get Loud.”
With Earth Day right around the corner on April 22, Eastern is doing its part and beginning and new tradition at Peggy Anderson Field. Beginning this season, every Mountaineer senior will plant a small evergreen tree just outside the field on Senior Day.
Saturday is Senior Day 2010 and the Mountaineers will honor four seniors this year.
Ashleigh Byrne,
Megan Hardman,
Krista Kountz, and
Iris Woodhead will all close out their careers this season. A rescheduled game with The College of Idaho on April 15, and a regular season-ending match-up with Walla Walla University on April 28 are the final home games of the season.
Oregon Tech (19-17) (6-4) comes to La Grande Friday as the Cascade Collegiate Conference's second place team. The Owls are looking to break out of a slump after losing five of their last eight games. OIT has a strong offensive attack, led by Jess Plummer (.375 6 HR 30 RBI) and Ashleigh Larson (.371 6 HR 26 RBI). Taylor Schmidt (.345 4 HR 22 RBI; 8-4 2.10 ERA) and Becca Anderson (5-5 3.46 ERA) are the Owls' aces on the mound.
Saturday's meeting with Southern Oregon (9-15) (5-5) will begin at 11 a.m. with senior activities prior to the first pitch. The Raiders have split all four of their league doubleheaders and have not played for two weeks. SOU is led on the mound by Jessica Flores (3-5 2.74 ERA), who also is their top hitter (.380 11 RBI). Meghan Laughlin (.371 11 RBI) and Sarah Wharton (.254 2 HR 14 RBI) are also threats on offense, with Karri Johnson (4-4 3.90 ERA) as the Raiders' No. 2 pitcher.
Friday's Game 1 first pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. against Oregon Tech. Fans are encouraged to wear green to the games this weekend.
