MOBILE, Ala. – Eastern Oregon University Softball's postseason run came to an end Friday morning, as the Mountaineers battled through the final Opening Round matchup before falling 5-4 to the University of Mobile Rams.
After Thursday's championship game loss, Eastern Oregon was forced into a winner-take-all, if-necessary championship game against Mobile — the third meeting between the two teams in as many days.
Eastern struck first in the opening inning when
Lexi Grumbois launched a two-out solo home run over the center field fence. Mobile answered immediately, stringing together five consecutive singles to plate two runs and take the lead.
Camille Schmitz entered in relief and escaped a bases-loaded jam with a popup and lineout to keep the deficit at one.
The Mountaineers threatened in the second inning, loading the bases behind a pair of walks and a hit-by-pitch, but the Rams worked out of trouble to preserve their lead. Schmitz continued to settle in during the bottom half, allowing just one walk while Eastern's defense turned three groundouts to keep the game close.
Eastern regained the advantage in the third inning. Grumbois drew a walk and
Hope Burke followed with a single to left field. With two outs,
Brylin Field battled through a lengthy at-bat, fouling off multiple pitches before crushing a three-run home run over the left field fence to give the Mountaineers a 4-2 lead.
Mobile responded again in the fourth, capitalizing on a combination of walks, hits, and an Eastern Oregon error to reclaim a 5-4 advantage. Schmitz and the Mountaineer defense held the Rams in check the rest of the way, allowing just a single and a walk over the next two innings, but Eastern's offense was unable to generate another rally. The Mountaineers managed only two baserunners over the final three innings as Mobile secured the 5-4 victory in the Mobile Bracket of the NAIA Softball National Championship.
With the loss, Eastern Oregon closes its season in Alabama with a 40-13 overall record and a 16-6 mark in Cascade Collegiate Conference play. The Mountaineers also remained ranked among the NAIA Top 25 throughout the season.
