LA GRANDE, Ore. – In the second half of the series, the No. 2 Eastern Oregon softball team secured two more wins, 5-3 and 12-0, including the third run-rule victory of the series and a one-hit performance from
Camille Schmitz.
Game 3
Eastern Oregon picked up right where it left off offensively, continuing its hot hitting streak from the previous day.
Lexi Grumbois launched a two-run homer in the first inning to give the Mounties an early lead. Bushnell put two runners on via walks but was unable to capitalize.
Both teams moved quickly through the next two innings before the Mounties extended their lead in the fourth.
Emily Barry opened the inning with a double, and Grumbois and
Allison Baumgart followed to load the bases.
Hope Burke then hit a ground ball that put pressure on the Beacon defense, resulting in a throwing error that allowed Barry to score.
Kelly Monaghan added a sacrifice fly to bring home another run and push the lead to 4-0.
Maliyah Mann remained strong in the circle, allowing just two free bases and no runs over the next two innings. Burke extended the Mounties' lead to 5-0 in the sixth with an RBI double.
Bushnell mounted a late rally in the seventh. Shyla Mead opened the inning with a single, and Brooklyn Rondeau laid down a sacrifice bunt. Another single put runners on first and third before the Beacons attempted a bunt, but Grumbois reacted quickly to secure the out while holding the runner at third. With two outs, Haleigh Wambolt delivered a single that drove in two runs to cut the deficit to 5-2. Another single plated one more run for Bushnell before
Hannah Ebner entered the game and recorded the final out to earn the save.
Mann (8-1) earned the win with 6.2 innings of work, while Ebner recorded her third save of the season. Violet Richard (1-3) took the loss for the Beacons.
Game 4
Eastern Oregon closed the series as strong as it started, securing its third five-inning run-rule victory of the series with a 12-0 win.
The Mounties struck quickly in the first inning.
Raygun Klippert opened the frame with a walk, and
Isabella Lauerman followed with a single that moved Klippert to third. Lauerman later stole second, forcing a pickoff attempt that resulted in an error and allowed Klippert to score. Grumbois then doubled to bring in another run before a line-drive double play ended the inning.
Eastern Oregon broke the game open in the second inning. With the bases loaded, Klippert delivered a two-RBI double, followed by an RBI groundout from Lauerman. A wild pitch allowed another run to score before a pitching change. The Mounties loaded the bases again, and Burke showed discipline at the plate by drawing an RBI walk. Monaghan followed with a three-RBI double to extend the lead to 10-0.
Anna Fowler added an RBI single later in the inning. After Bushnell returned Violet Richardson to the circle, Klippert drove in the final run of the inning with a single to left before the Beacons escaped with a double play.
Bushnell struggled to generate offense against Eastern Oregon's pitching and defense.
Camille Schmitz (4-0) threw all five innings, allowing just one hit and three baserunners while striking out nine to earn the win. Gabby Garza (0-3) took the loss for the Beacons.
Up Next
The Mounties return to the road next week, traveling to Redding, California, to face Simpson University on March 13. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
