PENDLETON, Ore.- The Eastern Oregon Mountaineers (0-2) couldn't find the rhythm they needed to take the series opener against the Whitman Blues (2-0). Game one went to Whitman as three homeruns helped them to an 8-2 victory over the Mounties. Both teams dialed in defensively for game two as Whitman edged out a late 2-1 win to take both games on day one. The Mounties will face the Blues again tomorrow at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to wrap up the opening series.

GAME 1
Whitman started out with hot bats and lockdown defense as they took game one with an 8-2 win against the Mounties. Julien Hernandez was comfortable on the mound as he ended with 14 Strikeouts allowing the Mounties to only 5 runs in. For the Mounties Justin Frederick led the Mounties going 3-3 at the plate with two singles and one double. For the Blues, three home runs helped jump start the scoring.
 
BY THE NUMBERS

• 6 – The Mounties were held scoreless for 6 innings
• 3 - Ties Justin Frederick career high for hits
• 5 - Mounties made their EOU debut in Saturdays contest

STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

• EOU
  • Justin Frederick: 3-3, 2 1B, 1 2B, 1 R
  • Noah Zohn: 1-4, 1 R, 1 2B
  • Alex Farnsworth: 5 SO, 0 WP in 4 IP
• Whitman
  • Jack Bickerton: 3-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 2B
  • Garrett Runyan: 2-5, 2 R, 2 RBI, 1 HR, 1 SB
  • Julien Hernandez: 14 SO, 0 R, 0 WP, 0 ER

 
GAME 2
The Mounties couldn't capitalize on Blues errors to edge out Whitman in game 2. The Blues took game 2 of the series with a late 2-1 win. Adrian Roa was able to take advantage of a Blues' error by getting on base which allowed him to score EOU's only run of the game unearned. The next 3 innings were a defensive battle as both teams earned no runs only allowing one hit each. Whitman's Ben Parker sending a double out allowed Mateus Conaway to score the tying run in the top of the 5th. A wild pitch allowed Whitman's Beck Maguire to run home and take the lead in the top of the 6th. Both teams combined for 7 strikeouts to end the game allowing runners to be left on base and no runs to be scored. Carson Gerding was EOU's lone hit for the day.

BY THE NUMBERS

• 7 - Mounties had 7 strikeouts on the evening
• 1 - Carson Gerding got his first start as a Mountie earning the lone hit of the 2nd game
• 6 - Mounties combined for 6 hits for the first two games against Whitman

 
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES

• EOU
  • Shane Sinclair: 4 SO, 0 WP, 1 R, 1 E
  • Carson Gerding: 1-3, 1 1B
  • Shane Sinclair: 4 SO, 1 E, 1 R

• Whitman
  • Mateus Conaway: 2-4, 2 2B, 1 R
  • Ben Parker: 1-2, 2 RBI
  • Wyatt Adams: 9 SO, 1 R, 0 E

Read Full Article