LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University played its first true home series of the 2021 season Friday afternoon as the Mountaineers took on the Bushnell University Beacons. Eastern split day one of the series falling 7-6 in game one winning 4-1 in game two. With the split, EOU is 8-16 overall and 5-6 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play.
 
Game 1 – Bushnell 7, Eastern Oregon 6
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers outhit the Beacons (5-19, 2-9 CCC) 13-8 in the series opener, while the two squads combined for five errors in the contest. Bushnell had three while EOU had two. Helping the Beacons take game one was five runs in the opening frame.
• A leadoff hit got things started for the Beacons before a throwing error by Eastern allowed the runner to score and make it a 1-0 game. The Mountaineers managed to get two outs following the error, but a rally by the Beacons allowed them to score four more runs and go up 5-0.
• The scored remained 5-0 until the bottom of the third as EOU tacked on three runs in the inning to cut the Bushnell lead to just two runs. Jordan Henley plated home the first run scoring Madison Parker on an RBI double to left center. A two-out single through the right side by Chambers scored two runs in Henley and Madison Stateler to make it a 5-3 game.
• Eastern cut the Beacons lead to just one run in the next inning to make things interesting. The Beacons forced two fly outs before Kayla Berg got on with a single to left field. She immediately stole second base and was brought home on a Parker RBI single up the middle to cut the Beacons' lead to 5-4.
• Bushnell pushed its lead back to two with a run in the top of the fifth. A fielding error by the Mountaineers got the runner on for the Beacons. Back-to-back wild pitches got the runner to third before a bunt single to the catcher scored the unearned run and gave the Beacons a 6-4 edge.
• The game's final three runs all came in the seventh as EOU nearly mounted a comeback for the win. The Beacons added a run in the top of the frame on an RBI groundout to second base. The leadoff batter hit a double before two straight ground outs scored the run.
• In the bottom of the seventh, Stateler got on with a one-out single. A fielding error then had two runners on as Henley made it to first. A fielder's choice in the next at bat got Haley Ebner on and a throwing error allowed Stateler to score and make it 7-5. Chambers plated home the final run with an RBI single to third before the Beacons finally got two more outs to thwart EOU's chances at a comeback.
 
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Madison Stateler was a perfect 4-4 on the contest and scored two runs.
• Makenzie Chambers tallied three hits in four at bats and had two RBI.
• Kayla Berg went 2-3 and scored a run.
• Jordan Henley scored two runs and had one RBI while batting 1-4 in the game.
• Madison Parker finished 1-4 and had one RBI to go along with a run scored.
• Alaina Wright had two hits in four at bats.
• Amanda Smith struck out two batters in a relief effort.
 
For the Beacons
• Alyssa Ferreira was a clean 2-2 in the win and had two RBI.
• Jordan Kuykendall racked up two hits in four at bats. She had one RBI and scored a run.
• Alexa Berry was 1-2 in the win and scored one run.
• Miranda Jensen pitched a complete game to improve to 5-7. She struck out three batters in the win.
 
Game 2 – Eastern Oregon 4, Bushnell 1
How it Happened
• The second matchup of the day whistled more of a defensive tune between the Mountaineers and Beacons as they combined for just five runs in the seven inning bout. EOU once again won the hit battle at 7-4, while the game had just one error which came from EOU.
• The first run of the game came in the first inning yet again, but this time it was from Eastern. A leadoff double from Alaina Wright got the bats going for the Mountaineers before a sacrifice bunt moved her over to third. Wright was plated home two batters later on a BRI sacrifice fly from Haley Ebner to make it a 1-0 game.
• The score remained 1-0 until the fourth as both starting pitchers battled it out both in the circle but also when facing each other in at bats. Miranda Jensen pitched all of game one and did the same in game two. For Eastern, Kayla Berg also went a complete game to help lead the Mountie to victory.
• Both pitchers worked 1-2-3 frames in the second and third to keep the score at 1-0 entering the top of the fourth. The Beacons tied the game at 1-all with a leadoff home run to left field. Despite the solo shot, Berg and the Mountaineers defense still held composure and kept it locked at a 1-1 tie until the sixth.
• It was in the bottom of the sixth where the Mountaineers scored their final three runs to secure the game two win. A leadoff home run from Jordan Henley got things started for EOU. She sent the ball over the left field fence on an 0-1 pitch that put EOU back in front, 2-1.
• Berg showed her versatility for the Mountaineers on both sides of the ball as she plated home the third run to make it a 3-1 lead. She hit a shallow single to right field to score pinch runner Rhyanne Oates. EOU's final run came when Taylor Dow brought in Glori Cheevers on a sacrifice fly to left to bring the score to 4-1.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Jordan Henley went 1-3 with a home run, an RBI, and a run scored.
• Kayla Berg got the win in the circle to improve to 1-4. She fanned three batters in the win. Batting wise, she was 2-3 with an RBI.
• Alaina Wright picked up two hits in three at bats and scored one run.
• Glori Cheevers was 1-3 and scored a run in the win.
 
For the Beacons
• Alexa Berry was 2-3 to lead Bushnell in total hits.
• Noel Balderston went 1-2 and scored a run. She also had an RBI in the loss.
• Miranda Jensen tallied one hit in three at bats. She pitched a complete game yet again and one batter in the loss to fall to 5-8.
 
By the Numbers
4 – The four for EOU in game two are the lowest in any of the team's wins this season.
2 – Alaina Wright had two hits in both games on Friday.
3 – With the solo shot in game two, Jordan Henley has now hit three home runs this season to lead the Mountaineers.
4 – Eastern has now held opponents to less than two runs in four games this season.
 
Up Next
• The Mountaineers and Beacons will close out the series tomorrow (Saturday). Game three will determine the CCC series winner after the day one split, while game four will not count toward CCC records. First pitch times are set for 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. PT at Peggy Anderson Softball Field.

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