Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Eastern Oregon University softball team split their doubleheader with Northwest University on Friday afternoon. EOU took game one, 4-2, before falling in the night cap, 5-3.
 
Game One (EOU 4 Northwest 2)
The Mountaineers took advantage of being the first team to the plate by scoring the first run of the game, and taking the lead, in the top of the first inning. With two outs and runners on the corners, Gracie Flyg walked to load the bases. EOU scored their first run when Samantha Scott reached on an error, putting EOU ahead 1-0.
 
EOU looked to threaten in the top of the third inning. On the help of Northwest's errors, EOU put runners on first and second with one out. However, the next two hitters for Eastern Oregon hit into fielder's choices, ending the inning and the threat.
 
The game remained 1-0, EOU leading, until the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Lindsey Walchli ran into trouble. Walchli walked Alyssa Gonzalez to put a runner on. She stole second base and came around to score on a Darian Godfrey double, tying the game at 1-1. Katelyn Riedinger broke the 1-1 tie with an RBI double to left center putting the Eagles ahead, 2-1.
 
Eastern Oregon looked to answer in the top of the fifth inning. Shelby Baertsch led off the inning with a single to left field. After an out, Marisa Gonzalez doubled to left field, putting runners on second and third for EOU. The Mountaineers left the runners stranded on base as the next two hitters grounded out, ending the inning.
 
The Mountaineers battled back in the top of the sixth inning to regain the lead. With one out, CeCe Pratt drew a walk to get the Mountaineers' offense going. After the second out of the inning, Haley Hess singled, putting two runners on base. Baertsch drove in those two, with a double to left field, putting EOU ahead, 3-2. Cassie Wendt followed with a double to left field, scoring Baertsch, extending the Mountaineers' lead to 4-2.
 
Northwest did not threaten to score again in the contest and EOU took the game, 4-2. Walchli picked up her tenth win of the season, tossing a complete game two hitter, while striking out eight.
 
Game Two (Northwest 5 EOU 3)
EOU looked as if they would jump on top of the Eagles early in the second game. In the top of the first inning, Hess single and Baertsch followed with a walk, putting two runners on. On a fly out, both Hess and Baertsch advanced a base, putting runners on second and third with two outs. EOU could not get a run across as the next hitter was retired.
 
After a scoreless first and second inning, EOU broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third. With one out, Hess tripled, and scored on an Eagles' error on the play, putting EOU ahead, 1-0. Baertsch followed with a single up the middle. Gonzalez doubled to center and Baertsch tried to score from first base, but was thrown out at the plate, ending the inning. EOU held a 1-0 lead heading to the bottom of the third inning.
 
Northwest wasted little time tying the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. After Ashley Driscoll retired the first hitter of the inning, she gave up a home run to Riedinger. 
The Eagles kept the Mountaineers off the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning and took the lead in their at bats in the bottom of the inning. With one out and one on, Ricki Tacdol hit the third pitch of her at-bat over the left field fence for a two-run home run, putting Northwest ahead, 3-1.
 
Northwest extended their lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. With runners on second and third with two outs, Savannah Rush doubled to right center scoring both runners on base. After five innings of play, Northwest led EOU, 5-1.
 
Eastern Oregon looked as if they were going to start chipping away at the Eagles lead as the first two hitters reached base, but the next three EOU hitters were retired, ending the inning and the threat.
 
The Mountaineers started to mount a comeback in the top of the seventh inning. Hess got the Mountaineers started with a walk. She then stole second and advanced to third on a Northwest error. Baertsch followed with a walk, putting two runners on. Wendt grounded out to the pitcher, which scored one, putting EOU down 5-2. Gonzalez followed with a single, scoring another, cutting Northwest's lead down to two runs, 5-3. After a Flyg single, Northwest made a pitching change and after the pitching change, EOU's threat ended on a fly out. EOU dropped game two, 5-3.
 
A trio of Mountaineers collected a team-high two hits in the second game.
 
The Mountaineers return to action tomorrow when they face Concordia (Ore.) in Portland, Ore. First-pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.