LA GRANDE, Ore. – The Eastern Oregon University softball team concluded its non-conference schedule with a pair of convincing wins over Lewis & Clark College (LCC) on a rainy Monday afternoon at Peggy Anderson Field.
With its third sweep of the 2016 campaign, EOU improved to .500 (13-13), while LCC dropped to 7-12 on the year.
GAME ONE
EOU 11, LCC 3 (FIVE INNINGS)
Both junior catcher Alex Shuster and sophomore second baseman Maryssa Santi sent balls over the fence, and the Mountaineers used a five-run third inning to take down LCC in game one, 11-3.
Shuster led the squad with two hits, while six other Mountaineers recorded one hit apiece.
In the circle, junior hurler Haylie Van Laethem (5-7) forced 11 groundouts and held the Pioneers to five hits on the day.
After falling down by one, EOU posted three runs in the bottom of the first to take its first lead of the affair.
LCC rallied to knot the game at three apiece, but the Mountaineers plated five runs in the third inning to break away. Junior designated player Lauren Burchak smashed an RBI double, senior center fielder Shelby Baertsch followed with a sacrifice fly, and then Santi launched a two-run bomb down the left field line to push the lead to five (8-3).
In the fifth frame, Santi nearly got picked off before she fended off the pickle and slid safely into first base. Meanwhile, Baertsch snuck her way home, and EOU extended its advantage to six (9-3) over LCC.
Shuster stepped to the plate in the Mountaineers' next at-bat, and the Washington native smacked a two-run homer to center field to cap the 11-3 victory in walk-off fashion.
GAME TWO
EOU 5, LCC 0 (FIVE INNINGS)
Although rain ended game two prematurely, EOU exited Peggy Anderson Field with its fourth shutout of the season.
Senior shortstop Haley Hess mustered three hits and two runs, while junior right fielder Cheyenne Barker batted 3-for-4 with two RBI.
Sophomore righty Hailey Kline (6-4) earned her fourth-straight win, as she amassed six strikeouts.
After senior first baseman Marisa Gonzalez belted an RBI single in the first to put EOU on the board, the Mountaineers tacked on two more runs in the third frame. Santi coated singles by Burchak and Gonzalez with an RBI single to extend EOU's lead to two (2-0), and then Shuster followed with a hit to right field to increase the advantage to three.
Hess and junior left fielder Taylor Turner opened the fourth with singles, and then Barker capped EOU's tally with a two-run double to right-center field.
GAME BALL GOES TO…
Shuster – A transfer out of Spokane Falls Community College, Shuster concluded game one with a walk-off homer and hit 3-for-6 in the twinbill.
UP NEXT
EOU hosts Northwest Christian and No. 17 Corban this weekend at Peggy Anderson Field. On Friday, the Mountaineers' doubleheader vs. the Beacons will swing away at 2 p.m. The doubleheader on Saturday against the Warriors is set for 11 a.m.
