LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University Softball split day of its series against Bushnell University to finish the series at 2-2. The Beacons won game three of the contest to secure the conference series win at 2-1. With the split, the Mountaineers move to 9-17 overall and 5-7 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
 
Game 1 – Bushnell 4, Eastern Oregon 3
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers once again out hit the Beacons (6-20, 3-9 CCC) in the game's first contest of the day at 7-5, while both squads finished with two errors each in the CCC series finale.
• Eastern grabbed the game's first lead in the top of the first inning thanks to a two RBI single from Haley Ebner that allowed Jordan Henley and Madison Stateler to score. Both runners got on with a single each before Ebner plated them home with the base hit to deep right field.
• Bushnell managed to get runners on in the top of the second as both of the Mountaineers errors came in the second. Despite the miscues, EOU managed to leave both stranded. EOU then pushed its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the second thanks to a one-out solo home run from Kayla Berg to right field.
• The scored remained 3-0 until the top of the fourth when the Beacons tacked on three runs to tie the contest at 3-all. The first run came on a bases loaded fielder's choice to second base that made it a 3-1 game. In the next at bat, a base hit through the right side scored the next two runs before EOU closed out the inning.
• The Beacons grabbed their first lead of the day in the top of the seventh and it was the one that counted to help them secure the conference series win. A leadoff single got a runner on before two ground outs advanced her to third. A single to right field then plated home to run to bring the game to its final of 4-3.
 
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Haley Ebner had two RBI and was 1-2 on the day to lead EOU.
• Kayla Berg finished 1-3 with a home run, a run scored and an RBI.
• Makenzie Chambers tallied two hits in three at bats.
• Madison Stateler went 1-4 and scored a run.
• Jordan Henley was 1-3 and scored a run.
• Makayla Mauger pitched 3.2 innings in the start and fanned three batters.
 
For the Beacons
• Miranda Jensen was 2-4 to lead Bushnell and had two RBI along with a run scored.
• Jordan Kuykendall was 1-3 and had an RBI.
• Sam Silver also was 1-3 and scored a run. Silver also picked up the win in the circle pitching six complete. She fanned two batters in the win.
 
Game 2 – Eastern Oregon 13, Bushnell 12
How it Happened
• The series finale was the highest scoring with the two teams combining for 25 runs. Bushnell had more hits at 14-9, but committed all three errors in the contest. Both teams left a total of 14 runners on base, respectively, and combined for 59 at bats.
• EOU got on the board first scoring two in the first. Makayla Mauger plated home the first run with an RBI groundout to second scoring Haley Tyree. On the next at bat, Olivia Zufelt scored Rhyanne Oates with an RBI single to the shortstop.
• Bushnell tacked on a run in the top of the second on a bunt single to third to make it a 2-1 game. EOU answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to go up 5-1. A fielder's choice from Oates got her on and allowed Sadie Bernard to score.
• All three errors for the Beacons came in bottom of the second which allowed two unearned runs to score. The second EOU run of the inning came when Tyree stole home to make it 4-1. Oates stole third and then came home as a throwing error by the pitcher to third allowed her to come in and put the Mountaineers ahead by four.
• Four runs from the Beacons in the top if the third tied the game at 5-all. Bushnell managed to load the bases and proceeded to score all four of its runs on bases loaded walks. All of the runs were earned as the Beacons tied the game.
• Bushnell scored another four runs in the fourth to go ahead 9-5. The Beacons once again loaded the bases and scored their first run on a single to center field. A groundout to third scored the second run to make it a 7-5 game. The final two runs came on a two RBI single up the middle to give Bushnell a four-run lead.
• Eastern responded in the bottom of the fourth scoring four runs to tie the game 9-all. Jacie Howton singled to left center to bring in Alaina Wright for the first run. EOU then loaded the bases and Mandy Fetters was walked for the RBI to score Zufelt.
• Jenna Gray cut Bushnell's lead to 9-8 with an RBI groundout to second to score Howton. The fourth run of the inning for EOU came on a wild pitch by the Beacons which allowed Glori Cheevers to come in for the score and tie the game once again.
• A two-out single by the Beacons in the top of the fifth gave them the lead back, 10-9. A leadoff double got a runner on for Bushnell before the RBI base hit through the left side brought in the run. EOU once again answered scoring two in the bottom half to regain the lead.
• Both runs for eastern came after the Beacons got the first two outs. Howton was walked before a Cheevers double to right got them both in scoring position. Shelby Starr plated home both with a two RBI single through the left side to make an 11-10 lead for the Mountaineers.
• EOU led 11-10 going into the sixth and tacked on its final two runs in the bottom of the frame. The Mountaineers loaded the bases and a hit by pitch on Cheevers brought in Mauger to make it 12-10. Starr was then walked to make it 13-11 as Zufelt came in for the score before Bushnell ended the inning.
• Bushnell's final two runs came in the seventh as they nearly mounted the comeback. A one-out RBI single to right field scored the first run to cut EOU's lead to 13-11. The final run came on a two-out RBI double to center to make it 13-12 before EOU got the third and final out to end the series.
 
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Olivia Zufelt went 2-4 in the finale with two runs scored and an RBI.
• Rhyanne Oates scored two runs while batting 1-2 and had an RBI.
• Jacie Howton was 1-2 with an RBI and scored two runs.
• Shelby Starr had three RBI on the day and finished 1-3 in her at bats.
• Glori Cheevers scored two runs and had an RBI while batting 1-2.
• Natalee Hall picked up the win in a relief effort as she pitched 1.2 innings.
• Abby Giles had five strikeouts in the start to lead EOU.
• Brianna Zweygardt was credited the save in the win as she closed out the final two innings.
 
For the Beacons
• Miranda Jensen was 4-5 with four RBI to lead the Beacons.
• Suzi Krstic went a perfect 3-3 and had four RBI to go along with four runs scored.
• Alexa Berry was 2-3 with two runs scored.
• Sam Silver finished 2-3 as well and scored two runs. Silver also pitched three complete innings and had two strikeouts.
 
By the Numbers
7 – The Mountaineers have now scored double figure runs in seven games this season.
5 – The five stolen bases by Eastern in the series finale matches the team's single game high for the year.
12 – All 12 runs scored by the Beacons in the finale were earned against EOU.
9 – In the final two games of the series, EOU totaled nine strikeouts in the split.
 
Up Next
• EOU will hit the road next weekend when they travel to Salem, Ore. to take on Corban University April 2-3.

FOLLOW EOU ATHLETICS