LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University Softball team and the Beacons of Northwest Christian University split a doubleheader on Friday afternoon. The Mountaineers took game one, 4-2, before dropping the second game, 11-8 to the Beacons.
 
Game One
The Mountaineers and Beacons were locked in a pitchers dual for the first two and a half innings. The two pitchers only allowed two hits during that time. In the bottom of the third inning, the bats came alive for EOU. With two outs, Andrea Roeder drew a walk to get things started. Haley Hess followed with a double to left center, scoring Roeder from first base, putting EOU ahead, 1-0.
 
With Hess on second, Samantha Scott doubled down the left field line, scoring Hess, and extending the Mountaineers' lead to 2-0. The Mountaineers were not done as Cassie Wendt singled through the left side of the infield scoring Scott, putting EOU ahead 3-0 after three innings of play.
 
Northwest Christian looked as if they would mount a comeback in the top of the fifth inning, With one out, Kaeli Massetto and Chelsea Roberts recorded back to back hits, but were left on base as the next two Beacons were retired.
 
The Beacons broke onto the scoreboard in the top of the sixth inning as Jill Surratt singled to centerfield to start the inning off. She advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score when Parker Bonife reached on an error. Going to the bottom of the sixth, EOU led 3-1.
 
EOU added to the lead in the bottom of the sixth led off the inning with a home run to center field by Wendt. That would be all EOU would score in the inning and EOU led 4-1 after six complete innings.
 
Northwest Christian added their second run in the top of the seventh inning. With a runner on first, Randi Kostner doubled, scoring one, to put the Beacons down 4-2. Northwest Christian did not get any more runs in the inning and EOU took game one, 4-2.
 
Game Two
In the second game of the day, the Beacons bats came to life early. Kostner led off the game with a double to right center. She advanced to third when Suratt hit into a fielder's choice as EOU tried to get Kostner out at third but could not, allowing both runners to be safe. Kostner scored when Addy Hoskins reached on an error.
 
With the Beacons ahead, 1-0, the bases were loaded for Bonife. She singled through the left side of the infield, which scored two, putting Northwest Christian ahead 3-0. The Beacons tacked on two more in the top of the first inning and half the top of the first EOU found themselves down 5-0.
 
Northwest Christian kept the Mountaineers' bats quiet early in the contest and continued to add to their lead. The Beacons limited EOU to three hits during the first three innings of the contest and in the top of the third inning, the Beacons added their sixth run of the game taking a 6-0 lead.
 
EOU scored their first run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lindsey Walchli led off the inning with a double to right field. Corinna Maestas followed with a walk. After the next two EOU hitters were retired, Scott singled up the middle, scoring Walchli.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, the Beacons scored four runs, on four hits, taking a 10-1 lead over the Mountaineers. Ashlee Cole came up with the big hit for the Beacons as she hit a three run home run to left center.

Eastern Oregon answered right back in the bottom of the sixth inning. Pinch hitters, CeCe Pratt and Maryssa Santi both reached base to get the Mountaineers started. Hess doubled to left field scoring one and Santi came around to score on a throwing error by the Beacons left fielder.
 
EOU went on to score three more runs in the frame and after six complete innings, EOU trailed 10-6.
 
Northwest Christian added to their lead in the top of the seventh inning. Roberts led off the inning with a double to right field. Roberts came around to score on a Suratt single putting Northwest Christian ahead, 11-6.
 
The Mountaineers did not go away quietly in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Scott singled to center field. She came around to score on a Marisa Gonzalez triple down the right field line. On the play, Gonzalez scored on a throwing error by the Beacons right fielder, putting EOU down three, 11-8. That would be as close as they would get as they dropped the contest, 11-8.
 
The Mountaineers return to action tomorrow, Saturday, March 14 when they host Corban University at 11 a.m. at Peggy Anderson Field. Northwest Christian heads to Caldwell, Idaho to take on College of Idaho at 11 a.m. MT.