ASHLAND, Ore. – The No. 3-ranked Eastern Oregon softball team opened conference play with a statement, taking down No. 1-ranked Southern Oregon University in commanding fashion, 6-4 in game one and 16-7 in game two.
Game 1
Eastern jumped out early, with a two run homerun from
Lexi Grumbois. The Mountaineers extended their lead to five in the fourth inning, with a sacrifice fly RBI from
Kelly Monaghan and a 2 RBI single from
Raygun Klippert. EOU held Southern scoreless through the first three innings, with
Maliyah Mann allowing just one hit.
Eastern set the tone early when
Lexi Grumbois launched a two-run home run to give the Mountaineers the lead. EOU extended its advantage to 5-0 in the fourth inning behind a sacrifice fly from
Kelly Monaghan and a two-RBI single by
Raygun Klippert. In the circle,
Maliyah Mann kept Southern Oregon scoreless through the first three innings, allowing just one hit.
Southern Oregon broke through in the bottom of the fourth with a pair of singles to plate its first run. The Raiders continued to chip away in the fifth, scoring three runs on three hits and two walks to pull within one.
Eastern added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, capitalizing on two walks and a single from
Hope Burke.
Hannah Ebner shut the door over the final two innings, surrendering just one hit to earn her second save of the season, while Mann (6-1) secured the win.
The Mountaineers tallied seven hits and drew five walks, scoring six earned runs off returning All-American and reigning Pitcher of the Year Ayla Davies (8-3).
Game 2
EOU once again struck first. Klippert singled and stole second before scoring on a base hit from Grumbois. Southern threatened in the bottom of the first with two runners aboard and one out, but Klippert snagged a line drive and fired to third to complete a double play, keeping the Raiders off the board.
Eastern added two more runs in the second.
Elizabeth Heinz laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Monaghan and Burke into scoring position, and Klippert followed with a triple to center field to extend the lead to 3-0. Southern responded in the bottom half, loading the bases on free passes before Aubree Muxen and Vanessa Lang delivered back-to-back two-run singles to take the lead.
The Mountaineers answered emphatically in the third, erupting for seven runs on three hits, four walks, and an error to regain control at 10-4. Southern added a solo run in the bottom of the inning and later trimmed the deficit to three in the fourth on a two-run double from Brooke Nordahl.
Eastern's offense and defense remained steady down the stretch. The Mountaineers scored four more runs over the final three innings, highlighted by a solo home run from Monaghan in the seventh, and committed just one error in the game.
Natalie Dimitrov (2-0) and
Camille Schmitz (3-0) combined in the circle, with Dimitrov tossing 5.1 innings and Schmitz closing out the final 1.2 frames to earn the win. EOU finished with 16 hits, 15 earned runs, and eight walks against four Raider pitchers. Lexi Ramirez (4-2) was tagged with the loss.
Up Next
Eastern Oregon will continue the series in Ashland tomorrow with two more games against Southern Oregon at 11 AM and 1 PM.
