LA GRANDE, Ore. -- The Eastern Oregon University softball team welcomes Corban and Northwest Christian this weekend to open conference play after weather alternates schedule. These are the first ever weekly notes for EOU softball.
THE SERIES
* EOU and Corban are one and two in the conference in fielding double plays with five each.
* The Warriors won all all four meetings against Eastern last season, and six of the last eight.
* In 2006 and 2007 the Mountaineers were 8-1 against Corban, since then CU has a 9-2 advantage.
* Since 2006 Northwest Christian has an 11-8 advantage over Eastern Oregon.
* The Beacons have won three straight over EOU after winning three of four last season.
* NCU did not make the trip to La Grande last year after weather forced the games to a neutral site.
QUICK HITS
* Eastern Oregon is fourth in the NAIA in triples hit per game with an average of 0.5.
*
Mariebeth Watanabe is on a seven game hit streak, the longest for EOU this season.
* The Mountaineers'
Emily Anderson had a combined five hits at Walla Walla last Sunday.
* Eastern is 0-7 this season when it has failed to score at least six runs in a game.
* Five teams in the Cascade Collegiate Conference ride win streaks into the first weekend of league play.
* The Mountaineers are 1-4 in their last five conference season openers.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS
The Warriors (8-7) have won six of their last seven games, including a walk-off win over D-II Western Oregon – having pounded out 14 home runs this year. Leading the way for Corban is returner Stephanie Nippert (.440 8 HR 22 RBI), who leads the loop in homers, RBI, and among the league leaders in stolen bases. Other key offensive threats include speedy Liane Dehart (.233 2 RBI, 7 SB), Coutney Castronovo (.326 2 HR 11 RBI), and Rachel Conard (.375 1 HR 11 RBI), while pitchers Emma Winckler (2-2 1.96 ERA) and Makenzie Marchbanks (4-3 4.05 ERA) lead the way.
ABOUT THE BEACONS
The Beacons (5-7) have played a similar preseason slate – all games against California NAIA teams or D-III schools, including wins over Pacific Lutheran and William Jessup. NCU is a veteran club, led by All-CCC players Cassie Bishop (.226 4 HR 6 RBI) and Brooke Davis (3-2 1.91 ERA, .229 2 RBI) – but have struggled with the bat this season, hitting just .229 as a team.
LAST TIME OUT
The Eastern Oregon University softball team picked up a pair of victories at Walla Walla University Sunday, 11-0 and 9-7. The Mountaineers 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. 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.
TRIPLE TROUBLE
The Mountaineers have owned the extra-base statistic of hitting triples this season. EOU enters the weekend fourth in the NAIA in triples per game. Eastern Oregon averages 0.500 triples per outing and has already hit 18 this season.
Ashli Hughes and Sarak Jackson have each hit a pair of triples. Eastern averages 1.58 doubles per game as well.
STAY ALIVE WITH FIVE
Eastern Oregon has not won a game when it has not scored five runs this season. The Mountaineers are 0-7 in games when they fail to score six or more runs. EOU is 3-1 when it reaches six runs. Eastern is 2-1 when it scores first in a game, and just 1-7 when opponents get on the board first.
WERE GOING STREAKING
Eastern rides into the weekend and the first Cascade Collegiate Conference games of the season on a three-game win streak, after falling in its first eight. The Mountaineers began last season 7-0. EOU lost four straight conference season openers before knocking off Southern Oregon last year in Ashland, 7-1.
Mariebeth Watanabe rides a seven-hit streak.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Admission prices to all home softball games are $6 for general admission and $4 youth/seniors/non-EOU students. No pets of any kind are allowed on EOU Athletic Fields. Live stats will be available from all home softball games on EOUSports.com by clicking “Live Stats” on any screens.
