PORTLAND – Eastern Oregon University Softball picked up a pair of close wins on Saturday as the team edged out Warner Pacific University, 3-1 and 8-7, to secure the series sweep. The Mountaineers' 4-0 weekend sweep of the Knights moves their record to 25-10 overall and 13-4 in league play.

Game 1 – Eastern Oregon 3, Warner Pacific 1
How it Happened
• The Mounties managed to get past the Knights (5-23, 3-15 CCC) despite having three errors on the day. EOU outhit WPU 6-3 in the game, while the Knights committed just one error.
• The game was scoreless through the first four innings. EOU worked 1-2-3 frames in two innings and surrendered just two hits in the first five innings overall.
• Eastern struck first in the top of the fifth with one run on one hit. Karsyn Zaragoza walked to leadoff. A passed ball and a flyout got her to third before a Shelby Starr single scored her.
• The Knights tied the game in the bottom of the sixth thanks to an EOU error. A leadoff walk got a runner before a groundout and an outfield error brought her in to tie the contest, 1-1.
• Eastern responded in the seventh, scoring two runs on two hits and a WPU error. They held on for the win, with a flyout and two strikeouts to take the CCC series, 3-0.
• A leadoff error and walk got two runners on for EOU in Zaragoza and Grace Gaither. A groundout advanced both to scoring positions before Starr hit a two RBI single to center cap the game at 3-1.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Shelby Starr hit 2-3 to lead the bats and had a game-high three RBI.
• Karsyn Zaragoza knocked one hit, drew two walks, and scored two runs.
• Amanda Smith (12-3) pitched another complete game and had nine strikeouts in the win.

For the Knights
• Paityn Willoughby went 2-3 at the plate and had one RBI.
• Faither Vadelund went 1-3.
• Abby Carlson (3-12) pitched a complete game in the loss and had four strikeouts.

Game 2 – Eastern Oregon 8, Warner Pacific 7
How it Happened
• The Mounties had to battle back for the game two win and used a seventh inning rally to do so. They trailed the entire game before a five-run seventh gave them the comeback victory.
• WPU led by as much as four runs a pair of times in the game and outhit EOU, 10-7. The Knights did commit three errors in the loss, while EOU had two.
• In the first inning, WPU worked a 1-2-3 frame to start and quickly scored a run on two hits. An EOU error in the leadoff hit got the runner to second and she scored on a base hit in the next at bat.
• Following a scoreless second, EOU tied the game in the third. Audrey Kime drew a leadoff walk and got to second on an error. Shelby Starr then doubled to score her and tie the game.
• WPU got the run in the bottom of the third. Back-to-back singles got runners on before an RBI fielder's choice, paired with an error, scored the run to make it a 2-1 game.
• The Knights extended the lead to four runs, 5-1, thanks to two hits with one being a home run. A walk and a single got two runners on before WPU hit a three-run shot to right center.
• The Mounties responded in the fifth with a home run of their own. Kime led off with a single before WPU got two outs. Caitlin Crist then delivered a homer down the left field line to make it a 5-3 game.
• WPU got both runs back in the sixth to go back up by four, 7-3. A leadoff walk and a double got runners in scoring positions. The Knights then hit a deep single to right to plate home both runners.
• The Knights quickly got two outs in the top of the seventh before EOU rallied for the comeback. With two outs, EOU managed to get runners on thanks to walks to begin the rally.
• An infield error by WPU scored the first run in Crist. Jenna Gray then singled to center field, scoring Allyson Bates to bring the score to 7-5. Karsyn Zaragoza drew a walk to load the bases.
• Delivering the final three runs for the Mounties was Haley Ebner. She smacked a three RBI double to score Zaragoza, Gray, and Madison Stateler to make it an 8-7 game.
• WPU threatened in the bottom of the seventh. The Knights hit a leadoff double before EOU made a pitching change. Reliever Mckenna Stallings struck out one and forced to groundouts to secure the comeback win for Eastern.

Mountaineers Stat Leaders
• Jenna Gray hit 2-4 with an RBI and a run scored.
• Caitlin Crist batted 1-2, hitting a home run. She had two RBI and scored two runs.
• Haley Ebner hit 1-1 in her lone at bat and tallied three RBI.
• Audrey Kime went 1-3 at the plate, scored two runs, and drew a walk.
• Madison Stateler was 1-4 in the win with an RBI and scored one run. 
• Kayla Berg (2-1) secured the win. She pitched two innings in relief and had three strikeouts.
• Mckenna Stallings earned the save, her first, and had one strikeout.
• Starter Abby Giles pitched four complete in the no decision and had a game best four strikeouts.

For the Knights
• Faith Vadelund batted a perfect 4-4 with five RBI, hit a home run, and scored three runs.
• Paityn Willoughby hit 2-4 with one RBI.
• Ashley Hawkins was 2-3 in the loss and scored two runs. 
• Sammie Brauckmiller (1-7) pitched a complete game and had nine groundouts.

By the Numbers
6 - Eastern has now picked up complete series sweeps against six opponents this year.
12 - Amanda Smith has now pitched 12 complete games this season.
3 - The Mounties gave up just three walks in four games against the Knights.
4 - With her home run in the finale, Caitlin Crist now leads the team in homers with four.
25 - EOU has secured its first 25-win season since 2018 and the first under head coach Nicole Christian.

Up Next
• EOU has a quick turnaround as the team will head to Caldwell, Idaho this Tuesday, April 5 for a doubleheader against No. 5 College of Idaho. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. PT at Symms Field.

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