ASHLAND, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University softball team struggled at the plate in their doubleheader against the Raiders of Southern Oregon University. The Mountaineers only collected three hits in the first game of the doubleheader as they fell, 4-0. EOU dropped the second game, 6-1.
 
Game One (Southern Oregon 4 EOU 0)
The Mountaineers' Lindsey Walchli and Brianne Craig for the Raiders were locked into a pitchers dual early in the contest. Both pitchers only allowed six combined hits during the first four innings of the game. Southern Oregon compiled two of the six hits in the bottom of the third inning and broke the scoreless tie on a double by Alexa Gonzalez. On the hit, Tyler Burke scored putting the Raiders on top, 1-0.
 
In the top of the fourth inning, Samantha Scott collected the second hit for the Mountaineers as she singled to center field. EOU did not collect another hit that inning and she was stranded on first base.
 
After the Mountaineers sat the Raiders down in order in the fourth, EOU's offense could not get anything going in the top of the fifth inning as they were also retried in order.
 
Southern Oregon extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning as they scored three runs on five hits in the inning. After the sixth inning of play, Southern Oregon led 4-0.
 
Eastern Oregon needed a seventh inning comeback against the Raiders. Cassie Wendt flew out to right field to start the inning for EOU. Marisa Gonzalez singled through the right side, for the third hit of the game for EOU, but the Mountaineers could not get anything else going and fell in game one, 4-0.
 
Game Two (Southern Oregon 6 EOU 1)
The Mountaineers looked to bounce back early in the second game. With one out, Scott drew a walk to put a runner on for EOU. After the second out of the inning, Gonzalez singled up the middle putting two runners on base. However, EOU could not get a run across the plate heading into the bottom of the first.
 
Southern Oregon led off the bottom of the first inning with a double to left field by Kelsey Randall. Randall advanced to third base when Ally Painter reached on an error. Randall tried to score on a Gonzalez ground ball but she was thrown out at the plate by Haley Hess. Southern Oregon did not get a run across, and after the first inning of play the game was scoreless.
 
After a scoreless second inning, the Raiders scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the third. Southern Oregon scored two runs on three hits, taking a 2-0 lead. Gonzalez and Kristin Ahern, each, collected RBI hits.
 
Southern Oregon continued to keep the Mountaineers' bats quiet as the Raiders sat EOU down in order in the top of the fourth. In the bottom half of the inning, Southern Oregon added to their lead, scoring two runs on four hits, taking a 4-0 lead after four innings of play.
 
Eastern Oregon collected two hits in the top of the fifth inning but they could not string anything together and get a run across. EOU shut down the Raiders in the bottom of the fifth inning.
 
In the top of the sixth inning, the Mountaineers plated their first run of the contest. With one out, Shelby Baertsch doubled to right center. Gracie Flyg followed with a double to right center, as well, scoring McKenna Michelsen, who was running for Baertsch, putting EOU down 4-1. After the second out of the inning, Andrea Roeder singled to second base, moving Flyg to third. Eastern Oregon could not get another run across went to the bottom of the sixth inning with Southern Oregon leading, 4-1.
 
Southern Oregon scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, taking a 6-1 lead over EOU. In the top of the seventh inning, the Mountaineers' first two hitters were retried. Wendt drew a walk to put a runner on base but Gonzalez grounded into a fielders' choice, ending the game as the Mountaineers dropped game two, 6-1.

The Mountaineers return to action on Tuesday, March 31, when they host College of Idaho in a Cascade Collegiate Conference doubleheader at Peggy Anderson Field. First-pitch is set for 3 p.m.