LA GRANDE, Ore. – In one of the most dramatic games of the season, No. 13 Eastern Oregon erased a five-run deficit and stunned No. 1 Southern Oregon with a 9-7 walk-off victory in 15 innings Friday afternoon at Peggy Anderson Field. Madison Olson launched a two-run home run down the left-field line to cap the comeback and lift the Mounties to the pivotal Cascade Collegiate Conference win.
Southern Oregon looked poised to pull away early, scoring twice in the first on an RBI single and a sacrifice fly before adding two more runs in the second on a two-run single by Kailer Fulton. The Raiders extended the lead to 5-0 in the fifth with a solo home run from Kennedy Kila.
The Mountaineers' offense came alive in the sixth. After loading the bases, Emily Barry crushed a grand slam to left field, cutting the deficit to one. Moments later, Olson tied the game at 5-5 with a solo shot to left. Southern Oregon regained the lead in the seventh on an RBI infield single, but Eastern Oregon responded in the bottom half as Melanie Boatman stole third and scored on a throwing error to knot the game at 6-6.
The teams traded scoreless frames deep into extra innings before the Raiders scratched across a go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the 12th. Once again, the Mounties answered, as Barry doubled to tie the game at 7-7.
Finally, in the 15th, after a one-out fielder's choice by Barry, Olson delivered the final blow, crushing her second home run of the day to walk it off in storybook fashion.
Olson finished 3-for-7 with three RBIs and two homers, while Barry went 2-for-7 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Brylin Field also collected three hits and scored twice for the Mounties, who outhit Southern Oregon 14-18 in the contest.
Kylie Parsons earned the win in the circle, tossing 14 gritty innings and 171 total pitches with nine strikeouts. Ayla Davies was credited with the loss after throwing 210 pitches throughout the game.
With the victory, Eastern Oregon (27-7, 21-4 CCC) closed the gap atop the conference standings to just one game behind the Raiders (42-5, 22-3 CCC) heading into Saturday's finale. Game two was suspended with EOU leading 5-3 due to darkness and will resume at 10 a.m. before tomorrow's Senior Day festivities. The Mounties and Raiders will then battle in the final game of conference play to decide a regular-season champion. Oregon Tech is also in the mix for the regular-season title, currently sitting with a 22-4 conference record.
