PORTLAND – Mountaineers Softball dropped a pair of one-run games Saturday afternoon as the team fell 6-5 and 2-1 in a single day match-up against NCAA Division III foe Lewis & Clark College. With the losses, Eastern Oregon is now 2-3 on year after dropping their first series of the 2022 season.

Game 1 – Lewis & Clark 6, Eastern Oregon 5
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers outhit the Pioneers (3-1) by just one hit in the opener, but five errors by Eastern compared to just two by the Pioneers was the difference. 
• Helping the Pioneers to the win was a minimum of one run scored through the first four innings of work. Keeping EOU in the game was the help of three runs scored in the second inning.
• Eastern grabbed the game's first lead on a Taylor Dow RBI double to score Hannah Tyree. Lewis & Clark answered in the bottom half of the first scoring on a passed ball and an EOU error to go up 2-1.
• Eastern then tacked on three runs in the second to go ahead 4-2. A Karsyn Zaragoza RBI single scored Grace Gaither to tie the score 2-2. Caitlin Crist then singled to score Zaragoza to make it 3-2.
• Madison Stateler made it a 4-2 score with a n RBI bunt single that plated home Rhyanne Oates. The Pioneers got a run back in the bottom of the second as a wild pitch allowed them to score a run.
• In the third, the Pioneers tied the game at 4-all after a wild pitch and another EOU error allowed a runner to score. The miscues by the Mounties allowed the game to come down to the wire.
• Lewis & Clark held Eastern scoreless in the fourth and scored to go once again. A deep RBI single to right field plated home a run and gave the Pioneers a 5-4 edge.
• Fast forward to the seventh, EOU loaded the bases on a pair of hits and a hit by pitch. A fielding error by the Pioneers allowed Tyree to score and tied the game at 5-5.
• The Pioneers got a leadoff hit and a pair of wild pitches moved the runner to third. A single to right center then scored the run to give Lewis & Clark the walk off victory.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Taylor Dow went 2-4 with one RBI and scored a run. 
• Haley Ebner also racked up two hits in four at bats.
• Caitlin Crist and Madison Stateler each went 1-4 with a run scored.
• Amanda Smith (1-1) pitched a complete game and fanned a game best six batters.

For the Pioneers
• Alyssa Hoeke was a perfect 2-2 with a run scored.
• Mari Alvarez batted 1-4 and scored two runs.
• Lily Moffitt went 1-3 with one RBI and a run scored,
• Alyssa Abe (2-1) got the win in relief. She pitched 2.2 innings and fanned one batter.

Game 2 – Lewis & Clark 2, Eastern Oregon 1
How it Happened
• The finale was a low scoring affair as the Pioneers won a defensive fight by a final of 2-1.
• EOU once again had the advantage in hits 5-4 and had a cleaner game on defense. The Mounties had just one error compared to three by Lewis & Clark.
• The game did not produce a run until the third inning as both defenses were stout to start. The Pioneers went 1-2-3 through the first two frames while EOU did the same in the second.
• Lewis & Clark ended the scoring drought in the third with a two run homer. The Pioneers got a leadoff single before a two-out home run to center field put them ahead 2-0.
• EOU managed just two hits between the fourth and the sixth innings. Two Pioneer errors in the sixth gave them a chance to score, but Lewis & Clark escaped the jam.
• The lone run for the Mounties came in the seventh frame. Kayla Berg smacked a solo home run to center field to make it 2-1. EOU then got two runners on, but the Pioneers kept them stranded to secure the sweep.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Kayla Berg hit 2-3 with an RBI, a run scored, and had a home run.
• Hannah Tyree went 1-4 in the loss.
• Both Taylor Dow and Shelby Starr hit 1-3.
• Kayla Berg (0-1) and Mckenna Stallings each had three strikeouts.

For the Pioneers
• Olivia Brackin went 1-3 with two RBIs and scored one run.
• Alyssa Hoeke hit 1-2 and scored one run.
• Alyssa Abe (3-1) pitched a complete game and struck out three batters in the win.

By the Numbers
17 - EOU left 17 runners on base in the two games. 
1 - Kayla Berg's home run in game two is the first of the year for the Mounties.
6 - The Mounties have thrown exactly six strikeouts in the first five games played this year.
1 - Eastern gave up its first home run of the season on Saturday.
5 - Taylor Dow has knocked a hit in all five games to start the 2022 season.

Up Next
• EOU will play its next eight games over a four-day span next week when they are in California Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 24-27. Eastern will face four different schools, playing each opponent twice.
• EOU is at Menlo College Feb. 24 for a doubleheader at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. The following day, Feb. 25, the team takes on William Jessup at 12 p.m. followed by Hope International at 4 p.m.
• Day three, Feb. 26, for Eastern will have them face Hope International at 10 a.m., followed by William Jessup at 12 p.m. The final day,Feb. 27, EOU takes on Marymount California in a doubleheader at 10 a.m. and 12 p.m.

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