SALEM, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University Softball team was swept by No. 24 Corban University on Friday morning. EOU fell 8-6, before being defeated, 11-3, in six innings in the second game by the Warriors.
Game One (Corban 8 EOU 6)The Mountaineers threatened early and kept the Warriors bats quiet in the start of the first game. EOU collected the first hit of the game, on a single by
Haley Hess, to leadoff the game. Eastern Oregon's next three hitters were retired, ending the inning.
Lindsey Walchli took to the circle for EOU and sat the Warriors down, in order, in the bottom of the first inning.
EOU looked to be threating again in the top of the second inning. With one out,
Samantha Scott singled to left field to start off the inning.
Corinna Maestas singled to third, putting two runners on, with one out. EOU's threat ended as the next two hitters were retired.
The Warriors scored the first runs of the game in the bottom of the second inning. With runners on second and third and one out, Jamie Costa singled to right field scoring one, and on the play Kylie Durre advanced to third. McCayla Hoffman entered the game to pinch run for Costa, who subsequently stole second base. On the play, Durre came into score on an EOU throwing error, extending the Warriors lead to 2-0.
The Mountaineers fought back and took the lead in the top of the third inning. Hess drew a walk to start the inning out for EOU.
Shelby Baertsch singled to left field putting two runners on. After a pop out,
Marisa Gonzalez hit a three-run home run to center field, putting EOU ahead 3-2.
Corban looked to answer in the bottom of the third as they tried to take advantage of more Mountaineer miscues. After a fielding error and back-to-back walks to load the bases with one out, Walchli settled down and retired the next two hitters, ending the threat by the Warriors. EOU held a 3-2 lead heading into the fourth inning.
After a scoreless fourth inning for both teams, Buhrkuhl set EOU down 1-2-3 in the top of the fifth and Corban's bats came to life. With one out, Danielle Ackerman singled to the shortstop and Anne Binschus followed with a single up the middle, putting two on for the Warriors. Kyrianna Sorensen drew a walk to load the bases. RaeAnna Dorcas drew a walk, which scored one for Corban. Durre drove in the second run of the inning for the Warriors on a sacrifice fly putting Corban ahead, 4-3. Corban added one more run in the inning and going to the sixth inning, the Warriors led 5-3.
Gracie Flyg led off the top of the sixth inning with a double but was stranded their as the next three Mountaineers were retired.
Corban extended their lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. With a runner on third base and one out, Ackerman reached on a throwing error by the EOU shortstop, which scored one, extending the Warriors lead to 6-3. The very next batter, Binschus hit a two-run home run to left field extending the lead to 8-3.
Eastern Oregon did not go down without a fight. In the top of the seventh,
Andrea Roeder reached on a bunt single to third base. Hess put two runners on when she reached on a fielding error. Baertsch walked to load the bases. After a pitching change,
Cassie Wendt followed with a two run single, cutting the Warriors lead to three, 8-5. EOU scored one more in the inning but it was not enough as they dropped game one, 8-6, to the Warriors.
Game Two (Corban 11 EOU 3)Both teams had opportunities to score in the first inning. With two outs, Wendt and Gonzalez were hit-by-pitches, putting two runners on base. However, the next EOU hitter was retired and kept the game scoreless. In the bottom of the first inning, Corban put two runners on but could not get a run across and the game remained scoreless going to the second inning.
Both pitchers,
Lily Smith for EOU and Jessica Holsinger for Corban, kept the bats quiet. Holsinger sat EOU down in order in the second and Corban threatened early but Smith kept the Warriors off the scoreboard.
In the bottom of the third inning, Smith ran into trouble. After retiring the first two Warrior hitters of the inning, Corban's offense came to life. With two runners on, Taylor Eilders hit a three-run home run to right field putting the Warriors ahead, 3-0. EOU was able to get out of the inning without any more damage being done.
Holsinger kept the Mountaineers off the scoreboard and only allowed one hit to EOU in the top of the fourth inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Corban added to their lead. After back-to-back singles to start the inning, Annie Owen collected an RBI single to left field putting the Warriors ahead 4-0. After the first out of the inning, Binschus hit another home run, this one a three-run home run, to left field extending the lead to 7-0.
EOU's offense finally clicked and they jumped all over Holsinger in the top of the fifth inning.
CeCe Pratt led off the top of the fifth inning for EOU with a single, and advanced to second on a Corban fielding error.
Maryssa Santi came into run for Pratt and with one out, she advanced to third on a single by Hess. Baertsch hit a sacrifice fly to right field scoring Santi and putting EOU down 7-1. Wendt followed with a single, which advanced Hess to third and Wendt moved to second on a fielding error. Gonzalez followed with a double down the left field line, scoring two, putting EOU down, 7-3. Flyg followed with a single to center putting runners on the corners with two outs. However, Corban was able to kill the rally and the runners would be left on base. Going to the bottom of the fifth inning, EOU trailed by four, 7-3.
After holding the Mountaineers scoreless in the top of the sixth inning, Corban answered with four runs in the bottom of the sixth. With the bases loaded and no outs, Jamie Costa hit a walk-off grand slam ending game two in six innings, 11-3, by mercy rule.
The Mountaineers return to action tomorrow, Saturday, April 4th when they play Northwest Christian University starting at 11 a.m. with the second game following 20 minutes later.
