HERMISTON, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University Softball wrapped up day two of its four-game series against Warner Pacific University. The Mountaineers stumbled on day two dropping both games to finish out at 2-2 against the Knights. In the games that counted toward conference records, EOU was the victor taking the series 2-1.
Game 1 – Warner Pacific 4, Eastern Oregon 2
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers (5-9, 2-1 CCC) managed to outhit the Knights (6-6, 1-2 CCC) in the opener, 8-6, but left eight runners stranded for the contest. The lone error of game one was also committed by the Knights.
• Both teams' starting pitchers worked a 1-2-3 frame in the first to get things started quickly, but WPU got its bats going in the second scoring three of its four runs in that outing.
• A leadoff single followed by back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Knights. A single and groundout in the next two at bats put the Knights in front 2-0 before a stolen base to second distracted the Mounties long enough for a WPU runner to come in from third on the throw.
• WPU made it a 4-0 lead in the fourth inning as three singles in the first four at bats plated home the final run for the Knights. The lone error for WPU in the bottom of the fourth allowed EOU to score a run and make it 4-1.
Makenzie Chambers had a one-out single and eventually scored thanks to a hit and the Knights' error.
• EOU scored its final run in the sixth and had the chance to potentially rally and tie the game but the Knight escaped the jam.
Jordan Henley led off with a single and got to third on a pair of ground outs.
Jacie Howton got her home for the run before the Knights left two runners stranded.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
•
Jacie Howton had two hits in two at bat and had one RBI for EOU.
•
Jordan Henley and
Madison Stateler both hit 1-4, while Henley scored a run.
•
Makenzie Chambers went 1-3 and also scored a run.
•
Amanda Smith was 1-2 and had an RBI.
• In the circle,
Abby Giles fanned four batters in three innings of relief work.
Makayla Mauger suffered the loss to fall to 0-1.
For the Knights
• Jamie Carlson was 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
• Rebekah Roe went 1-3 and had one RBI.
• Pitcher Melia Croydon pitched a complete game to improve to 3-2. She fanned five batters in the win.
Game 2 – Warner Pacific 4, Eastern Oregon 1
How it Happened
• Warner Pacific had the edge in hitting in the second contest at 8-6. The second also featured just one error but this time it was by the Mountaineers.
• The Knights grabbed the game two lead early with a run scored in the opening frame. A leadoff single followed by a double allowed WPU to plate home the run and never relinquished it.
• The score remained 1-0 until the top of the fifth when the Knights tacked on a pair of runs to go ahead 3-1. EOU managed to get two outs in the first three at bats, but the Knights rallied and scored the leadoff runner and the next batter up on back-to-back singles.
• The lone run for the Mountaineers came in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Faith Huezo was walked to start the frame and got to second on a sacrifice bunt from
Taylor Dow. A wild pitch moved her to second before a
Jenna Gray single plated her home to make it a 3-1 game.
• WPU pushed the lead back to three for good in the seventh. The Mounties managed to get two outs in the first four at bats but hit the leadoff batter to get her on. The runner got to second on a ground out before an RBI single up the middle allowed her to score and bring the final score to 4-1.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
•
Jenna Gray had the lone RBI for EOU in a pinch-hitting appearance.
• Five other Mountaineers tallied a hit in
Shelby Starr,
Mckenna Stallings,
Meghan Krantz,
Glori Cheevers, and
Kayla Berg.
•
Kayla Berg suffered the loss in the circle to fall to 0-3. In five innings pitched she fanned a game-high seven batters.
For the Knights
• Macy Besuyen was a clean 1-1 with an RBI.
• Sarah Stanfill was 1-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Payton Hergert and Devinne Amesquita each had an RBI in the win.
• Cierra Speck got the win in the circle to go to 3-3. She pitched six innings and struck out six batters.
By the Numbers
7 – The seven strikeouts by
Kayla Berg is a career-high in an EOU uniform.
3 – The Knights used just three pitchers in the games on Saturday.
15 – The Mountaineers left a combined 15 runners on base in the two losses on Saturday.
1 – With the 2-1 CCC series win, EOU secured its first conference series victory of the 2021 season.
Up Next
• Eastern Oregon hits the road next weekend to continue CCC play. The Mountaineers will head to Helena, Mont. for a four-game series at Carroll College on March 12-13.
FOLLOW EOU ATHLETICS
