ASHLAND, Ore. – Eastern Oregon University Softball played a tough and close game to open up the 2021 Cascade Collegiate Conference Softball Championships presented by U.S. Bank. The Mountaineers were the No. 5 seed and fell in a 2-1 contest against No. 4-seeded Corban University.
With the loss, the Mountaineers overall record falls to 16-31 overall. Eastern will have one more guaranteed game at the CCC Tournament, but it will be an elimination game. Winner of the contest will still have a shot at the CCC Tournament crown.
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers and Warriors (26-21) battled the whole way through and both starting pitchers dueled the entire morning. Corban had a slight edge in total hits at 6-5 but had one error in the game while Eastern had a clean game.
• The Warriors managed to get two runners on to open the game, but had just one hit in the frame. Both runners were left stranded and EOU was able to get on the board in the bottom half of the inning.
•
Alaina Wright got on base with a one-out single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Two batters later
Haley Ebner hit a single directly to the pitcher which allowed Wright to advance before the Warriors lone error, by the shortstop, allowed Wright to score and make it a 1-0 game early on.
• Through the second and third inning it remained a 1-0 lead for the Mountaineers as both pitchers did not allow the opposing squad to find any rhythm on offense. The score remained in the Mountaineers favor until the fourth inning when Corban notched the score up at 1-1.
• A one-out double followed by a hit by pitch got two runners on for the Warriors to start the fourth. A fielder's choice in the next at bat put runners at first and second before a single up the middle plated home the Warriors run to even the score at 1-all.
• Starter
Amanda Smith worked a 1-2-3 inning to start the fifth, but Corban responded and limited EOU to just one hit in the frame to keep the score locked at a 1-1 tie. The Warriors got a hit to leadoff the sixth but made nothing of it before closing out the inning with a 1-2-3 outing against the Mountaineers.
• The score moved to its final of 2-1 in the top of the seventh as the Warriors tacked on the final run of the game to escape against the Mountaineers. A one-out single got a runner on before a passed ball advanced her and a double down the right field line scored the run to secure the win for Corban.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
•
Alaina Wright went 1-3 at the plate and scored the lone run for EOU to lead the offense.
• The trio of
Haley Ebner,
Taylor Dow, and
Amanda Smith all batted 1-3 in the loss.
•
Glori Cheevers had the only other hit for the Mounties going 1-2.
•
Amanda Smith pitched a complete game in the circle and struck out four batters.
For the Warriors
• Kaycee Arase went 2-3 with a run scored and an RBI to lead Corban on offense.
• Sophia Barbosa was 1-3 with an RBI.
• Kayle Kuhrkuhl and Megan Rybar each had a hit in the win.
• Ally Crakes pitched a complete game and had one strikeout in the win.
By the Numbers
5 – The Mountaineers have totaled five hits in each of their last two games.
0 – EOU had not had one error in each of its last three games.
1 –
Amanda Smith surrendered just one walk in Friday's game against the Warriors.
1 – The Mountaineers have been held to just one run in four of their last five home games
Up Next
• The Mountaineers elimination game will take place tomorrow (Saturday) against the No. 2-seeded College of Idaho Coyotes. First pitch is set for 11:30 a.m. PT at University Field in Ashland.
