COLLEGE PLACE, Wash. – The Eastern Oregon University softball team picked up a pair of victories at Walla Walla University Sunday, 11-0 and 9-7.
"We played well today as a team," EOU head coach Aaron Jackson said. "Anytime you can sweep a doubleheader, it is a good day. Offensively we were able to produce runs and defensively we were solid."
The Mountaineers (3-8) were powered by 21 hits in the first game. EOU and the Wolves were each scoreless through the first two innings until Eastern recorded a run in the top of the third. The Mountaineers added five runs over the next three innings and another five runs in the seventh.
Emily Anderson led Eastern Oregon with four hits on five at bats. The junior had an RBI and crossed the plate twice.
Stephanie Maestretti and
Mariebeth Watanabe each had three hits and two RBI. Maestretti hit three doubles, while Anderson, Watanabe and
Ashli Hughes all had one double. Anderson also had a triple.
EOU left 13 runners on base, but committed no errors.
Jennifer McDonnell recorded the win. The sophomore threw a complete game allowing three hits, no runs, walking no batters, and striking out six.
Game 2 required a Mountaineer rally for the victory. Walla Walla jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the first inning. After Eastern added a run in the third inning, the Wolves scored another three runs in the bottom of the fourth. EOU responded with an outburst of seven runs in the top of the fifth inning, and added an insurance run in the top of the sixth.
Walla Walla had 11 hits to Eastern Oregon's 10, but it was the Wolves' four errors that proved costly. Each team left seven runners on base in the game.
Suzie Espinoza was credited with the win. She tossed four strikeouts and walked two batters. Watanabe and Hughes each had a pair of hits and an RBI. Anderson hit another double.
The Mountaineers open their Cascade Collegiate Conference schedule Friday at Corban University in a doubleheader. EOU travels from Salem to Eugene Saturday for a doubleheader at Northwest Christian University.
