LA GRANDE, Ore. – Mountaineers Softball made a statement in their home opener with a pair of run-ruled wins over the University of Providence Argos on Friday afternoon. Eastern Oregon won 9-0 and 11-2 in five innings on day one to secure the conference series win over Providence.

Game 1 – Eastern Oregon 9, Providence 0 (5 Innings)
How it Happened
• Eastern (19-8, 9-2 CCC) racked up a dozen hits in the series opening win and did not commit a single error. The Argos (0-16, 0-11 CCC) mustered just three hits and had one error.
• The bulk of the damage came in the first two innings as the Mounties scored seven runs. Their final two runs came in the bottom of the fifth in walk-off fashion.
• EOU hit two home runs in the series opener and the second homer was a walk-off two-run shot by Caitlin Crist that ended the game in five frames.
• In the first, Providence managed to get two outs before EOU rallied scoring four runs. Kayla Berg smacked a two RBI triple to right center that scored Hannah Tyree and Madison Stateler.
• Leading 2-0, the Mounties built off the momentum of Berg's triple. In the next at bat, Grace Gaither delivered a two-run home run to center field, scoring Berg and her.
• The 4-0 lead for EOU grew to 7-0 thanks to a dropped sacrifice fly and a sacrifice fly, respectively, resulting in three runs scored.
• Caitlin Crist got on base thanks to a dropped sacrifice fly that scored Shelby Starr and Haley Ebner. Tyree then flew out to left field, scoring Crist to give Eastern the commanding 7-0 lead.
• In the fifth, Crist played the role of hero, hitting a two-run homer that scored Rhyanne Oates and her. The homer capped the came early as EOU went up 1-0 on the Argos.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Caitlin Crist had three RBI and hit 1-3 to go along with two runs scored.
• Kayla Berg went 2-3 at the plate with two RBI and scored one run.
• Grace Gaither batted 1-2 with two RBI and scored one run to go along with a walk.
• Hannah Tyree was a perfect 2-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Haley Ebner also went 2-2 and scored a run in the win to go along with one walk.
• Madison Stateler hit 2-3 and scored one run.  
• Amanda Smith (9-2) pitched a complete game in the win and fanned four batters.

For the Argos
• Taylor Mathews batted 1-2.
• Mackenzie Staats and McKenna Montgomery both went 1-2 at the plate.
• Montgomery (0-4) suffered the loss and had two strikeouts in the start.

Game 2 – Eastern Oregon 11, Providence 2 (5 Innings)
How it Happened
• The second was not as pretty as the first as the two squads combined for eight errors in the bout. Providence had five, while EOU racked up three.
• Hitting once again went to the Mounties who racked up 11 hits. The Argos fared better the second time around with five, but scored their two runs in just one inning.
• The third inning was where EOU once again established its dominance. The team scored nine hits, all earned, and racked up eight hits in the frame to cruise to the win.
• After a scoreless first inning, the Argos scored their first and only runs of the day in the top of the second. An error by EOU allowed a run to score before an RBI single made it a 2-0 game.
• Eastern got a run back in the bottom of the second to get within one, 2-1. The Mounties then exploded for nine runs to grab a 10-2 run and never looked back.
• A two RBI single from Taylor Dow gave Eastern its first lead 3-2, scoring Madison Stateler and Caitlin Crist. A wild pitch brought in Hannah Tyree and quickly made it 4-2.
• Karsyn Zaragoza hit a line drive triple down the right field line which plated home two runners in Grace Gaither and Kayla Berg.
• Haley Ebner rewarded Zaragoza on the next at bat with a single to score her and brought the score to 7-2. Statler pushed the lead to 8-2 with an RBI base hit, scoring Shelby Starr. 
• The final two runs came on the swing of Tyree with a double to center field. Her extra base hit plated home Stateler and Crist.
• The Mounties put the nail in the coffin in the fourth scoring their final run. A throwing error by the Argos catcher allowed Gaither to score to make it an 11-2 final in five frames.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Hannah Tyree hit 2-3 and had two RBI to go along with a run scored.
• Karsyn Zaragoza also went 2-3 with two RBI and a run scored.
• Madison Stateler was 2-3 at the plate with two runs scored and had an RBI.
• Taylor Dow batted 1-3 and had two RBI. 
• Caitlin Crist, Kayla Berg, and Grace Gaither all went 1-2 and scored two runs, respectively.
• Amanda Smith (10-2) picked up her second win of the day and fanned three batters in a complete game.

For the Argos
• Ryen Palmer hit 2-2 and scored one run.
• Taylor Mathews batted 1-3 and had one RBI.
• Sirena Hernandez was 1-2 and scored a run. 
• Carter Thornton (0-8) suffered the loss. She fanned three batters in the complete game.

By the Numbers
2 - Amanda Smith went 2-0 in two starts in the circle.
23 - EOU tallied a total of 23 hits in the two wins on day one.
2 - The Mounties two run-ruled wins are their first ones of the season.
.316 - Through 11 conference games, EOU is batting .316 so far this season.
9 - EOU's nine conference wins are the most so far under Head Coach Nicole Christian.

Up Next
• The Mountaineers and Argos wrap up the series tomorrow, March 26, with another doubleheader. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. with game two set for a 1 p.m. start.

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