CALDWELL, Idaho – No. 11 Eastern Oregon University and No. 20 College of Idaho went head-to-head for a Saturday Cascade Collegiate Conference doubleheader at Symms Field, with the Mountaineers taking Game 1 in a 7-1 decision before the Yotes answered back with a 5-3 victory in the nightcap.
GAME 1: Eastern Oregon 7, College of Idaho 1
After three scoreless innings, College of Idaho struck first in the bottom of the fourth. Chloe Flerching reached on a strikeout and wild pitch, took second on a groundout, and eventually scored on Madelyn Powell's RBI single to center, putting the Yotes ahead 1-0.
Eastern Oregon responded immediately in the fifth. Katelynn Evans opened the frame by getting hit by a pitch and later scored on a groundout from Madelyn Durham, tying the game 1-1. Moments later, shortstop Raygun Klippert came home on a single from Hannah Tyree to put the Mountaineers on top, 2-1.
The Mounties added three more runs in the sixth, all unearned. With Evans on board via an error, Klippert drew a walk, and Hope Burke's single brought Evans around for a 3-1 lead. Durham followed with an RBI single that plated Klippert, then Tyree's base hit to left scored Burke to stretch it to 5-1. Two more Mountaineers touched home in the top of the seventh when Klippert delivered a two-run double, plating both Haley Tyree and Evans for a 7-1 advantage.
In the circle, EOU's Kylie Parsons earned the win (10-0) by scattering four hits and striking out nine in a complete-game performance. Klippert spearheaded the offense with three hits, including a double, while Hannah Tyree finished with two RBI.
GAME 2: College of Idaho 5, Eastern Oregon 3
The Yotes wasted no time, scoring three in the opening frame. Ashlynn Nixon belted a three-run homer to right field, driving in Kayla Vahlberg and Brinley Iverson for a 3-0 edge. Eastern Oregon countered with two runs in the second. A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to Haley Tyree brought in the first, and moments later, a fielder's choice grounder from Evans made it 3-2.
In the third, the Mountaineers tied the game on a sacrifice fly from Hannah Tyree that brought home Brylin Fields, knotting the score at 3-3. College of Idaho retook the lead in the fifth when Nixon doubled to center, scoring Vahlberg. Powell then followed with a sacrifice fly, plating Iverson for a 5-3 lead the Yotes never relinquished. Drew Williams came on in relief and threw 4 1/3 innings of two-hit, shutout ball. Eastern Oregon's rally attempts were held in check down the stretch, sealing the Yotes' 5-3 victory.
Eastern Oregon returns to La Grande next weekend, facing Carroll College at Peggy Anderson Field on Friday.
