BELLEVUE, Wash. – A home run in each of the two games were key for Mountaineers Softball as they took down Northwest University on day one. Eastern Oregon won by scores of 9-1 and 4-3 to secure the league series win. A grand slam homer in game one lifted EOU to a run-ruled victory in five innings, while a solo shot late in game two gave the team a comeback win.

With the day one sweep, the Mountaineers improved their overall record to 32-11 and 18-5 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. For Head Coach Nicole Christian, her squad's 32 wins are now the third most in a single season in program history.

Game 1 – Eastern Oregon 9, Northwest 1 (5 Innings)
How it Happened
• The Mountaineers' bats were too much to handle in the opener as they racked up 15 hits in the win. The Mounties held NU (14-28, 10-16 CCC) to just three in the run-ruled loss.
• Eastern had just four extra base hits in the win, but one was a grand slam home run by Kayla Berg. The long ball shot by Berg ultimately led to the game being called after five.
• The first two of the nine EOU runs came in the second inning. Shelby Starr drew a bases loaded hit by pitch for an RBI scoring Karsyn Zaragoza.
• In the next at bat, Caitlin Crist hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Berg to make it 2-0. Starter Amanda Smith then worked a 1-2-3 outing to get the EOU bats back out quickly.
• In the third, Berg doubled to right center to score Zaragoza after she got on with a one-out single. NU got within two, 3-1, in the bottom of the third thanks to an EOU error.
• In the fourth, EOU did its most damage with six runs scored to end the game early. A leadoff error got Shelby Starr on and she was scored on an RBI single by Taylor Dow.
• In the following at bat, Gaither drew a walk and loaded the bases with her, Dow and Madison Stateler. Berg then smacked a no doubt shot to center field for the grand slam to make it 9-1.
• Over the final two frames, Smith allowed just one hit. Her pitching combined with the overall defense by EOU secured the series opener win in five.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Kayla Berg was a perfect 3-3 at the plate with a home run, a double, and had five RBI. She scored two runs.
• Karsyn Zaragoza also batted a perfect 3-3 with three runs scored and had an RBI.
• Madison Stateler tallied three hits in four at bats and scored a run.
• Taylor Dow went 2-4 in the win with one RBI and a run scored.
• Shelby Starr was 1-2, scoring one run and had one RBI.
• Grace Gaither hit 1-2, scoring a run, and drew one walk.
• Amanda Smith (14-4) pitched another complete game and fanned three batters in the win.

For the Eagles
• Jordan Dippel hit 1-2 and scored the lone run for NU.
• Kayla Stanley went 1-2 at the plate and drew a walk.
• Madisyn Leffle had the only other hit, going 1-3.
• Bella King (8-12) suffered the loss, pitching 3.2 innings.

Game 2 – Eastern Oregon 3, Northwest 2
How it Happened
• The second contest was a battle as EOU battled back from being down before taking the game in the seventh on a home run from Madison Stateler.
• EOU once again outhit the NU, 9-6. The Mounties had just three extra base hits in game two, but once again a long ball hit was the difference in the one-run win.
• The Eagle got on the board in the first thanks to a base loaded situation. An RBI single to right field scored a run, EOU luckily limited the damage to just that to keep things close.
• Following a scoreless second, EOU tied the game in the third. Caitlin Crist led off with a single and stole second to get in scoring position. She scored on a Taylor Dow sacrifice fly.
• Despite tying the game at 1-1, the Mounties surrendered a pair of runs in the bottom of the third. Three hits by the Eagles pair with an EOU error allowed them to go up by two.
• Eastern wasted little time tying the game backup, scoring two runs in the fourth to lock the game at 4-4. The score remained at that until the seventh as both defenses were stout.
• Karsyn Zaragoza led off with a double and got to third on a Kayla Berg single. Zaragoza scored on a sacrifice fly from Haley Ebner. Shelby Starr immediately singled and scored Berg.
• Reliever Kaylin Winans closed out the final five frames and was key defensively in the win. She did not allow a single hit, allowing EOU to stay in the game and had three innings where she went 1-2-3.
• Fast forward to the seventh, it was anybody's game still with the score locked at a 4-all tie.. EOU had just one hit that came back in the sixth. Enter Madison Stateler.
• Stateler stepped up to the plate and delivered a one-out solo homer to left field to give EOU the lead 4-3. Winans then went three-up, three-down to give the Mounties the 2-0 series lead.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Madison Statler had one hit, the gamewinning home run, and drew a walk.
• Haley Ebner went 2-3 at the plate with an RBI.
• Hannah Tyree knocked two hits in three at bats and drew a walk.
• Karsyn Zaragoza and Kayla Berg both went 1-3 with a run scored.
• Shelby Starr batted 1-3 in the win and had one RBI.
• Kaylin Winans (1-1) picked up her first win of the year. She had two strikeouts in five frames worked.

For the Eagles
• Alyssa Maldonado hit 2-3 and had one RBI.
• Jordan Dippel batted 1-4 and scored a run.
• Kayla Stanley and Emily Barry both went 1-3 at the plate with a run scored.
• Becca Rennick (2-9) pitched a complete game and had two strikeouts.

By the Numbers
32 - The Mountaineers 32 wins this season are third most in program history.
0 - EOU did not have a single batter strikeout in game one.
6 - With the day one sweep, Eastern has now won six CCC series match-ups this year.
4 - With the homer in game one, Kyla Berg is now second on the team with four.

Up Next
• The Mountaineers and Eagles will wrap up the series Saturday, April 16 (tomorrow). First pitch is set for 11 a.m. in game one, with game two starting at 1 p.m.

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