Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

REDMOND, Wash. – The Eastern Oregon University softball team opened up its conference season by splitting a doubleheader with Northwest University on Friday afternoon. EOU won game one, 6-4, before falling in the night cap, 8-7.

The Mountaineers scored early in game one as they scored two runs in the top of the first inning. With a runner on first base, Brittnee Carmen-Rice hit a home run to center field putting EOU ahead 2-0.

In the top of the third inning, Eastern Oregon extended its lead to 4-0. With the bases loaded, Katie Martell singled to center field, which scored two runs for EOU. That would be all the Mountaineers would get and after two and a half innings EOU led, 4-0.

EOU added to its lead in the top of the fourth inning. Andrea Roeder doubled to left field to get the Mountaineers offense clicking. With Mariebeth Watanabe at the plate, Northwest threw a wild pitch and Roeder advanced to third. Watanabe grounded out to second base, which scored Roeder to put the Mountaineers on top, 5-0.

Through four innings EOU's Lindsey Walchli had only allowed four hits. However in the bottom of the fourth inning, Walchli lost her shut out as Lizzy Reimer doubled to left field, which scored Ricki Tacdol to put Northwest down, 5-1.

Eastern Oregon scored its final run in the top of the fifth inning. With one out Stephanie Maestretti hit a home run to center field to put EOU on top 6-1.

The Eagles continued to chip away and in the bottom of the fifth inning. Katelin Lewis doubled to left and Katelyn Riedinger singled and Lewis came around to score on an error. After five innings Northwest trailed 6-2. The Eagles continued to battle back and scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and with runners on with two runners on base, Robbins grounded out to end the game.

Walchli picked up her third win of the season by pitching seven innings and allowing four runs, three earned. Watanabe led the way for the Mountaineers with two hits in game one.

The Eagles jumped all over the Mountaineers in the bottom of the first inning of game two. On five hits and one EOU error, Northwest put up six runs in the first inning to take an early 6-0 lead over EOU.

Eastern Oregon began chipping away at the Northwest lead in the top of the second inning. Martell reached base on an error. She advanced to third base on an Eagles wild pitch. JoElla Smith drove in Martell on a single to center field, putting EOU down 6-1. After a passed ball advanced Smith to second base, Watanabe singled to left to score Smith to put EOU down 6-2, after the top of the second innings.

Northwest added another run in the bottom of the second inning to extend its lead to 7-2 over EOU. However, the Mountaineers continued to chip away at the Eagles lead. Carmen-Rice led off the inning for EOU by striking out, but she reached base because the catcher could not handle the pitch. Maestretti followed by hitting, her second home run of the day, this time a two run home run  which put EOU down, 7-4.

Eastern Oregon came all the way back to tie the game in the top of the fourth inning. Smith and Watanabe both doubled to start the inning off to put two runners on base. Wendt followed with a double to left field scoring two putting EOU down one, 7-6. Carmen-Rice grounded out to second base, which advanced Wendt to third base. She came across to score on a wild pitch and after four and a half innings EOU and Northwest were tied at 7-7.

However, the tie game did not last long as the Eagles added another run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Mallory Tacdol singled to second which plated one to put Northwest back on top 8-7.

The Mountaineers continued to battle and in the sixth inning Walchli drew a walk and advanced to third base on a Martel single to right field. However the inning and threat came to an end after a groundout ended the inning.

Eastern Oregon continued to battle and in the top of the seventh inning Smith drew a one out walk. After a ground out and a Wendt walk, EOU had two runners on base but could not get a run across and fell, 8-7 in game two.

Maestretti and Smith led the Mountaineers with three hits apiece in game two. Maestretti and Wendt drove in two runs apiece to led EOU.

Eastern Oregon returns to action tomorrow at 11 a.m. when they face Concordia University in Portland Oregon at Delta Park.