Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University softball team won a pair of one run games on Saturday to end the College of Idaho Classic. EOU opened up the day with a 10-9 win over British Columbia and concluded play with a 4-3 win over Great Falls.

British Columbia
In the first game of the day for the Mountaineers, EOU faced British Columbia. EOU looked as if they would break onto the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first inning. With two outs, Brittnee Carmen-Rice, Stephanie Maestretti and Lindsey Walchli all drew walks to load the bases. However, the Thunderbirds escaped without giving up a run as Katie Martell grounded out to end the inning.

British Columbia broke onto the scoreboard first, as they plated one in the top of the third inning. With runners on the corners, Alana Westerhof grounded out to second base, which scored Shayla Kaplen, to put the Thunderbirds on top, 1-0.

The Thunderbirds added to its lead in the top of the fifth inning. Cassandra Dypchey singled through the right side of the infield, which scored two runs extending the lead to 3-0. British Columbia added one more run in the top of the fifth and going to the bottom of the inning, EOU trailed 4-0.

Eastern Oregon started to mount its comeback in the bottom of the fifth. Mariebeth Watanabe doubled down the left field line to get the Mountaineers offense started. JoElla Smith followed with a single up the middle to score Watanabe, cutting the Thunderbirds lead down to 4-1. EOU got two more runs in the inning on an RBI double by Walchli putting the Mountaineers down, 4-3, going to the sixth inning.

British Columbia added to its lead in the top of the sixth inning as they scored three runs to extend its lead to 7-3 over EOU. However, the Mountaineers answered back in the bottom of the sixth inning as they scored seven runs.

Eastern Oregon scored its first run of the inning on an error by the Thunderbirds shortstop. Cassie Wendt followed with a single to right field to score another run to put EOU down, 7-5. After a pitching change and an EOU out, Maestretti followed with an RBI single to put EOU down one, 7-6.

With the bases loaded Katie Martell reached on a fielder's choice which scored one run. Wednt came around to score on a throwing error by British Columbia's pitcher. Gracie Flyg extended EOU's lead with a 2 run RBI single to right field. After the inning was over EOU held a 10-7 lead over British Columbia.

The Thunderbirds would not go away quietly as they tried to come back against EOU. With two runners on, B.H. Siwicki singled through the right side to score one run and the Thunderbirds cut EOU's lead down to two, 10-8. With one out, Kaplen hit a sacrifice fly to score another and EOU found its lead down to one run, 10-9. However, Walchli would get Dypchey to ground out to shortstop to end the game and EOU defeated British Columbia, 10-9.

Walchli picked up the win for EOU, her second win of the season. Watanabe collected a team high three hits on the afternoon, while Flyg and Smith both drove in two runs in the contest.

Great Falls
The Mountaineers kept the offense going against Great Falls, as EOU scored the first run of the game in the top of the first inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Walchli grounded out to shortstop, which plated a run and put EOU ahead 1-0.

The Argos looked as if they would come back in the bottom of the first inning as they had two runners on with one out but Lily Smith struck out the next two batters in a row to end the inning with EOU ahead 1-0.

Great Falls had another great opportunity to score in the bottom of the second inning as they had the bases loaded. However, Smith got Regan Rucks to ground into a triple play to end the inning. The game remained, 1-0, EOU until the top of the fourth inning.

The Mountaineers added to its lead in the top of the fourth. With a runner on base and one out Katie Martell hit her first home run of the season to center field scoring two and putting EOU on top, 3-0. Eastern Oregon continued to add to its lead as they added one run in on the top of the fifth inning. Carmen-Rice scored when Great Falls was called for an illegal pitch.

Great Falls broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning. With runners on second and third, Taylor Roberts drove both runners in on a single to center field. That would be all the Argos scored in the fifth inning. After five innings of play EOU led, 4-2.

The Argos chipped away and cut the Mountaineers lead down to one run, 4-3, in the bottom of the sixth inning. Kelli O'Brien hit a leadoff homerun for Great Falls to trim EOU's lead to one run. The Argos looked as if they would finish the comeback in the bottom of the seventh inning as they had two runners on base with one out. However, O'Brien lined into a double play to end the game and EOU came away with a 4-3 win.

Lily Smith picked up her first win of the season by tossing four innings of one run ball. Walchli picked up the save for EOU. JoElla Smith led the Mountaineers with three hits in the game and Martell collected two RBIs in the contest.

The Mountaineers return to action on Friday, March 7, when they host Clackamas Community College at 1 p.m. in a scrimmage at Peggy Anderson Softball Field. EOU opens up Conference play on Friday March 14, when they travel to Kirkland, Wash. to face Northwest University. First pitch against Northwest is set for 2 p.m.