SANDY, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University Softball was swept by No. 19 Concordia University on Saturday afternoon at Sandy High School. EOU dropped game one, 11-3, in five innings and was then defeated 8-5 in game two.
Game One (Concordia 11 EOU 3 (5 inn.))Concordia used a seven run bottom of the first inning and the strong pitching by Lucy Baldovino, who didn't allow a hit until the fourth inning for EOU in the first game, to defeat EOU. In the bottom of the first inning, Concordia scored seven runs on five hits and took advantage of two Mountaineer errors to take a 7-0 lead going to the second inning.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Cavaliers added to their lead. With two runners on base, Meghan Luebbert hit a three run home run, extending the lead to 10-0. This was Luebbert's eighth home run of the season.
In the top of the fourth inning, EOU collected their first hit of the game as
Gracie Flyg doubled to right field.
Samantha Scott followed with a walk putting two runners on base.
Kaitlyn Reynolds loaded the bases for EOU with a single to center field. The Mountaineers' rally ended as the next hitter hit into a double play to end the inning.
Concordia added one more run in the bottom of the fourth inning taking an 11-0 lead over EOU heading to the fifth inning.
The Mountaineers rallied in the top of the fifth inning. With one out,
Haley Hess and
Shelby Baertsch drew back-to-back walks, putting two on base.
Cassie Wendt put the Mountaineers on the board when she hit a three-run home run to left center. This was her 12th home run of the season. EOU could not get anything else going and the Mountaineers dropped game one, 11-3, in five innings.
Game Two (Concordia 8 EOU 5)The Mountaineers collected their first run of game two in the first inning of play. With one out, Baertsch hit a solo home run to center field, putting EOU ahead 1-0. EOU could not get anything else going as the next two hitters were retired.
Concordia answered in the bottom of the first inning. The Cavaliers scored two runs on four hits off Mountaineers' starter
Lily Smith. In the inning, Taylor Bussey and Destinee Chang both collected RBI's for the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers continued to add to their lead in the bottom of the second and third innings. In those two innings, Concordia scored six runs. In the bottom of the third inning Luebbert capped off the scoring for the Cavaliers by hit a grand slam. After three innings of play, Concordia led 8-1.
After the Mountaineers scored the first run of the game, EOU's bats went quiet as the Mountaineers collected only three hits in the second, third and fourth inning.
Eastern Oregon's bats came to life in the top of the fifth inning. With one out, Hess singled to the shortstop. Baertsch followed with a double down the left field line, moving Hess to third base. Wendt followed with a walk to load the bases for EOU.
Marisa Gonzalez cleared the bases with a grand slam, trimming the Cavaliers' lead down to three, 8-5.
After the four run fifth inning for EOU, the Mountaineers did not collect a hit for the remainder of the game. EOU dropped game two, 8-5.
Baertsch led the way for the Mountaineers with three hits in the game and Gonzalez collected four RBIs to lead EOU.
The Mountaineers return to action on Friday, April 17 when they host Southern Oregon University. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
