LA GRANDE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University Baseball hosted its second to last home series this past weekend as the Mountaineers played host to the Oregon Tech Hustlin' Owls for a four-game series on April 24 and 25. OIT was able to complete the season sweep of the EOU winning all four games at Optimist Field. With the four-game loss, the Mountaineers record falls to 4-28 overall and 4-24 in conference play.
 
Day 1 – OIT 12, EOU 2 (Game 1) | OIT 4, EOU 2 (Game 2)
How it Happened
• The series opener fell completely in OIT's favor as the Owls (21-21, 15-12 CCC) scored 12 runs and tallied 15 hits. EOU had eight in the loss but managed just the two runs in nine innings of work.
• A pair of RBI singles by the Owls scored their first two runs to grab the 2-0 lead early. EOU tacked on its first run in the bottom of the frame when Juan Guardado doubled to right center to score Brooks Dyer.
• Trailing 2-1, EOU battled over the next three innings and its defense held OIT scoreless. On the flip side, the Mountaineers had chances to score but OIT was able to hold them scoreless to keep a slim one-run lead going into the fourth.
• OIT pushed its lead to three with two runs scored in the fifth inning. The two runs for the Owls came on a home run down the right field line that put them ahead 4-1. Eastern was able to respond scoring a run in the bottom of the fifth.
• Trevor Curl singled through the left side to plate home Carsten Manderbach. EOU was within two, trailing 4-2, but never managed to score another run over the final four innings of pay. OIT made it an 8-2 game with four runs scored in the seventh. They tacked on one in the eighth and three in the ninth to secure the 10-run win.
• Game two was not as high scoring between the two squads as OIT secured a 4-2 win to complete the day one sweep. For the Owls, they scored three runs in the opening frame and one in the fourth while both Mountaineers' runs came in the ninth.
• A two RBI single through the left side in the first allowed the Owls to tack on the first two of their three runs. An RBI singled through the left side yet again is what pushed the score to 3-0 for OIT. Defense then picked up as it remained at 3-0 until the fourth inning.
• An RBI groundout following an EOU error ended the scoring drought and put the Owls ahead 4-0. It remained a 4-0 game until the bottom of the ninth when EOU looked to mount a lame game comeback against OIT.
• The Mountaineers loaded the bases and got the first run in on a hit by pitch on Dyer that brought in Payton Hamilton. The second run came on a sacrifice fly from Manderbach that scored Easton Watterson to make it a 4-2 game before the Owls got the third and final out to hold on for the win.
 
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Trevor Curl was 2-4 in game one with an RBI, while Juan Guardado was 1-4 with an RBI as well.
• Both Carsten Manderbach and Brooks Dyer scored a run in the game one loss. Easton Watterson was a perfect 2-2 at the plate in game one.
• Connor Crandall pitched five complete innings in the series opener and had six strikeouts.
• Brooks Dyer and Payton Hamilton were 2-4 in game two. Dyer had an RBI while Hamilton scored one run.
• Jacob Farnsworth pitched six complete frames in the game two start and fanned 10 batters.
 
Day 2 – OIT 9, EOU 1 (Game 3) | OIT 11, EOU 1 (Game 4, 8 Innings)
How it Happened
• Day two of action was a struggle for the Mountaineers who mustered just two runs over the two-game span while surrendering 20 to the Owls. Errors also plagued the Mountaineers as they had nine total, with six coming in the finale.
• A highlight from the day though was the Mountaineers turning a rare triple play in top of the sixth inning of game two. The Mountaineers worked a 1-6-3 play on the bunt attempt that forced the triple play.
• In the first game of the day, the Owls got on the board with a solo home run to make it a 1-0 edge against the Mountaineers. Defense played well for both squads as it remained a 1-0 game until the fourth inning.
• An RBI fielder's choice scored the second run for OIT before a double to left center made it a 3-0 game. The Owls' lead grew to 5-0 in the seventh as a single run scored. Another double, this time down the left field line, plated home the run to give the Owls a five-run advantage.
• OIT tacked on two more runs in the eighth with a two RBI double to go ahead 7-0. The lead grew to 8-0 when the Owls scored a run on a fielding error by the Mountaineers. They added their final run in the top of the ninth with a solo home run to left field.
• EOU's lone run of game three came in the bottom of the ninth as Donovan Gonzalez got on base from a throwing error by OIT which allowed Jamie Powell to score. The lone run brought the game to its final of 9-1.
• The series finale was close through the first six innings of work as the Mountaineers only trailed 3-1 going into the seventh inning. Helping OIT win the game in eight frames was four runs scored in the seventh and eighth inning.
• A sacrifice fly to center field brought in the first run for OIT in the second frame before a single through the right side made it a 2-0 lead for the Owls. The lead grew to 3-0 for OIT in the third on an RBI single through the left side.
• The lone run for EOU came in the bottom half of the third. Brooks Dyer singled to deep right center field allowing Easton Watterson to score and make it a 3-1 game. It remained 3-1 until the seventh when the bats came to life for OIT.
• A handful of EOU errors combined with four hits by the Owls allowed them to open up the game at 7-1. The Mountaineers committed three errors in the inning to put themselves down by six going into the eighth.
• Four hits once again in the eighth helped the Owls score their final four runs of the game and they had help again with an EOU error. A wild pitch by EOU scored the first OIT run before a double and another wild pitch scored the next three runs. OIT surrendered a hit in the bottom half of the eighth but left the runner stranded to secure the 11-1 win.
 
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Brooks Dyer was 2-4 in game three to lead the way in hitting for EOU. Dyer also went 1-3 in game four and had an RBI.
• Jamie Powell went 1-1 as a pinch hitter and scored one run.
• Nick Jennings pitched six complete in game three and struck out four batters.
• Easton Watterson went 2-3 in the finale and scored one run.
• Jaydon Yancey pitched 6.1 innings in the finale and led the pitching staff with four strikeouts.
 
By the Numbers
6 – The six runs scored by EOU is the lowest amount in a home series this season.
17 – The 17 strikeouts by the Mountaineers pitching staff in game two is the most in a single game this year.
3 – Eastern surrendered just three home runs to OIT at home compared to giving up 12 on the road in the first matchup.
4 – This is just the fourth series this season, where EOU has been swept.
 
Up Next
• The Mountaineers close out the 2021 season this upcoming weekend with a home series against the Lewis-Clark State College Warriors. The series is set to take place April 30-May 2 at Optimist Field.

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