GAME ONE BOX                GAME TWO BOX

EUGENE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University softball team fell in back-to-back games at Northwest Christian University Friday, 1-0 and 3-1.

The Beacons (9-19, 3-11 Cascade Collegiate Conference) and EOU had identical records in conference play coming into the doubleheader, and each battled for much-needed wins.

It was NCU's Brooke Davis (4-7) that highlighted Game 1. The junior allowed only two hits and no earned runs in a complete-game shutout. She struck out seven Mountaineers and walked two others. Davis allowed only three balls to be hit past the Beacon infielders.

The game-winning run came in the bottom of the fifth inning. Dani Gehrke capitalized on one of Eastern Oregon's five errors to cross home plate. Gehrke led NCU at the plate, going 3-for-4. Northwest Christian would leave 10 runners on base, while EOU stranded three.

Jennifer McDonnell (2-13) allowed no earned runs and six hits through six innings. The sophomore struck out one batter and walked another. Emily Anderson hit her seventh double of the season for Eastern Oregon (4-22, 1-13).

The Beacons opened the scoring in the second game in the second inning. After back-to-back singles from Cassie Bishop and Ally Mittleider, Lissa Hatefi hit a ball to right center field, scoring both runners. NCU added an insurance run in the third inning when Megan Mazanec scored on a double by Jazzy Villarruel.

The Mountaineers' Rebecca Joseph crossed home plate in the top of the fourth after a Northwest Christian error. Joseph reached on a single up the middle. EOU would finish the game with seven hits, and 13 runners left on base.

Becca Lillegard started and went three innings, striking out one batter and allowing five hits. Jenna Royce (2-3) came in for the fourth inning and allowed just one hit over a pair of innings to secure the victory. Kalyssa Koontz closed out the game, striking out four batters over the final two innings and allowing just one hit to pick up the first save of her career.

Eastern Oregon travels to Salem, Ore., to face Corban University Saturday. First pitch against the Warriors is scheduled for 11 a.m. at Warrior Field on the Corban University campus. Corban swept EOU in the first meeting this season in La Grande.