SALEM, Ore. – Mountaineers Softball split day two action against Willamette University winning game one in eight innings, before falling in game two. Both games ended by the same score of 3-2. Eastern Oregon takes the series 2-1 over the Bearcats.

Game 1 – Eastern Oregon 3, Willamette 2 (8 Innings)
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers and Bearcats needed an extra frame to determine a winner. Helping EOU in the win was eight hits, while committing just one error.
• Eastern held Willamette (2-3) to five hits in the contest. The Bearcats had just one error on the day, but it was a costly one that helped the Mounties take game one.
• The Mounties jumped ahead by two in the opening frame. Caitlin Crist drew a leadoff walk, immediately stole second and got to third on a passed ball. Madison Stateler then plated her home with a single to right field.
• Stateler made her way to third thanks to a wild pitch and a flyout by Hannah Tyree. Taylor Dow then knocked a single to right field for the RBI to score State and put EOU up 2-0 to start.
• The Bearcats got a run back in bottom of the first to keep things close. A leadoff hit by pitch got a runner and ultimately a wild pitch after a stolen base scored the run for Willamette.
• EOU looked to respond but never scored again until the eighth. The Bearcats tied the game at 2-2 in the fourth. A leadoff hit got a runner on and wild pitch once again scored the run for WU.
• Fast forward to the eighth, and EOU finally capitalized on offense. Hannah Tyree was placed on second base to start. Taylor Dow then hit a single to get Tyree to third and she advanced on the throw to second.
• WU then forced a double play on the next at bat. Shelby Starr drew a walk to get on and then a throwing error by third base allowed Dow to score and give EOU the one-run lead.
• The Bearcats got the third out and on offense they advanced their second base runner to third on a sacrifice bunt. However, reliever Abby Giles then forced a line out and got a strikeout to give EOU the victory.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Taylor Dow was 3-4 at the plate with a run scored and one RBI.
• Madison Stateler went 1-4, scoring one run and had an RBI.
• Caitlin Crist batted 1-3 and scored the only other run for EOU.
• Abby Giles (1-0) scored the win and fanned three batters in four innings.
• Starter Kayla Berg also had three strikeouts in four innings pitched.

For the Bearcats
• Brianna Majors hit 2-3 and scored one run.
• Mia Lund went 1-3 and scored the only other run.
• Faith Collar (0-1) pitched a complete game and had three strikeouts.

Game 2 – Willamette 3, Eastern Oregon 2
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers and Bearcats each had just one error in the contest. EOU outhit WU 6-4, but fell short by one run.
• All three runs for the Bearcats came in the first inning thanks to three hits and the lone error by EOU. WU loaded the bases and scored the first run on an error by third base to go up 1-0.
• The Bearcats made it a 3-0 game on the next at bat. A single to the pitcher allowed the next two runners to score and after one, WU led by three.
• The score remained at 3-0 until the fifth. A leadoff walk  by Grace Gaither followed by a double from Kayla Berg got the two in scoring position. A fielding error at shortstop allowed Gaither to score and made it a 3-1 game.
• The Bearcats held the Mounties to just one run in the fifth frame but gave up the next run in the sixth.
• Hannah Tyree scored the final run for Eastern. She got on with a fielder's choice and got to third on a double from Gaither. She scored on an RBI sacrifice fly from Kayla Berg to bring the score to its final of 3-2.
• The Mountaineer looked to make a comeback in the seventh, but a 1-2-3 frame by WU closed out the game. The win secured the Bearcats from being swept.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Kayla Berg was a perfect 2-2 and had an RBI.
• Grace Gaither went 1-2 and scored one run.
• Hannah Tyree scored the only other run for EOU.
• Mckenna Stallings (0-1) pitched a complete game and had six strikeouts.

For the Bearcats
• Carrie Dose went 2-3 and scored one run.
• Athena Vandyke was 1-3 at the plate and had two RBIs. 
• Kelsey Wong also went 1-3 and scored a run.
• Jordyn Johnson (1-2) pitched a complete game and struck out four batters.

By the Numbers
1 - This is the first series win of the year for the Mountaineers.
7 - EOU racked up seven doubles in its series against Willamette.
6 - The Mounties racked up six strikeouts in each of the three games against the Bearcats.

Up Next
• Eastern will remain in-state for a one-day doubleheader match-up at Lewis & Clark College on Sunday, Feb. 20. First pitch is set for 12 and 2 p.m., respectively.

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