OKLAHOMA CITY – No. 15 Mountaineers Softball put up a fight late in the Opening Round of the NAIA Nationals Championships, but ultimately came up short against No. 22 Texas A&M-Texarkana, 5-3.
The Mountaineers fall to 41-16 on the year, while Eagles improve to 43-12. With the loss, EOU must now win the next four games to advance to the NAIA Softball World Series.
No. 22 (3) Texas A&M-Texarkana 5, No. 15 (2) Eastern Oregon 3
How it Happened
• The game was a clean contest for both squads as neither team committed an error. The Eagles had the slight edge in hits, 9-8, in the two-run win.
• Late scoring came into play as a combined six runs were produced in the final two innings. TAMUT had three in the sixth that helped secure the victory.
• The Mounties had the near comeback late in the game. They added one run in the sixth and two in the seventh for the rally before the Eagles closed out the contest.
• Neither team scored in the first two innings before the Eagles got on in the third with two runs. Three hits by the Eagles allowed them to go ahead by two. An RBI groundout scored the first run before a single to left made it a 2-0 lead for TAMUT.
• Eastern was unable to score until the sixth as the Eagles held them to just two hits in that span. In the sixth, TAMUT added three runs, while EOU scored one to end the drought.
• In the top of the sixth, the Eagles got two runners on from a hit by pitch before a two RBI double scored both to make it a 4-0 score. An RBI single on the next at bat then pushed it to 5-0.
• TAMUT never scored again and EOU then began its near comeback.
Hannah Tyree got a leadoff double and made it to third on a
Grace Gaither double.
Olivia Zufelt then knocked an RBI groundout to score Tyree to make it 5-1.
• The Mounties totaled four hits in the seventh and scored two runs to bring the score to its final of 5-3. After a leadoff flyout, EOU tallied three straight singles to load the bases.
• Tyree brought in the first run with a fielder's choice and Crist ultimately scored on the throw.
Shelby Starr was tagged out at home on the throw.
Taylor Dow made it 5-3 with an RBI single, scoring
Madison Stateler.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
•
Taylor Dow batted 1-4 and had one RBI.
•
Caitlin Crist and
Hannah Tyree both went 1-3 with a run scored.
•
Madison Stateler was 1-4 at the plate with a run scored.
•
Amanda Smith (19-7) pitched 5.1 innings in the loss and had four strikeouts.
For the Eagles
• Erika Richardson hit a perfect 3-3 at the plate.
• Patti Swimley was 1-1 as a pinch hitter with two RBI and scored one run.
• Blair Quarles went 1-3 and scored one run.
• Anna Westberry went 6.1 innings to improve to 24-4. She had five strikeouts.
• Mackenzie Vittitow earned her second save in the closeout.
By the Numbers
19 - Monday's game marks the 19th game EOU played where the team did not commit an error.
0 - Eastern did not allow a walk in the game vs. the Eagles.
4 - The Mounties must now win four-straight games to advance to the NAIA World Series.
Up Next
• Eastern will play in an elimination game tomorrow, May 17, against No. 4 seeded William Woods University. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. PT/1 p.m. CT.
FOLLOW EOU ATHLETICS
