KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Facing elimination after dropping their opening game the night before, Eastern Oregon returned for Day Two of the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament with vengeance, dominating British Columbia 9–1 in five innings in the first game of the day. A later lightning delay disrupted Eastern's momentum, as they fell 4–2 to College of Idaho in their second game, ending their run at the tournament.
Game 1 - British Columbia
After losing the coin flip, Eastern took the away designation. The Mountaineers got off to a shaky start offensively, managing just one baserunner via walk, who was ultimately stranded. On defense, things looked equally uncertain early, as Eastern loaded the bases with one out after issuing walks and a hit-by-pitch.
Maliyah Mann settled in with a key strikeout before surrendering an RBI single. However,
Hope Burke delivered a clutch throw home to record the third out and limit the damage.
Carlee Murray stayed composed in the circle, allowing just one baserunner via hit-by-pitch while striking out three to hold UBC to a 1–0 lead. Mann found her rhythm in the bottom half, walking the leadoff batter but quickly retiring the next three.
Eastern broke the game open in the third inning.
Elizabeth Heinz ignited the rally after being hit by a pitch, followed by a bunt single from
Raygun Klippert and a base hit from
Isabella Lauerman to load the bases. Burke then drove a ball to right field to bring in two runs and force a pitching change.
Emily Barry and Lexi Grumbous kept the momentum going with RBI singles, extending the lead to 4–1. The Mountaineers added two more runs with the help of sacrifice bunts and a Thunderbird error, taking a 6–1 advantage despite UBC turning a double play to end the inning.
Mann remained dominant in the circle, needing just eight pitches to retire the side in the third. Eastern's bats stayed hot in the fourth, as Lauerman singled up the middle and, with two outs, Barry and Grumbois each added hits to bring in another run.
Allison Baumgart capped the inning with a double to right-center, pushing the score to 9–1 and activating the run rule.
Mann continued her strong outing, allowing only a walk in the fourth while the defense held firm. Eastern threatened again in the fifth with a walk and a single, but UBC escaped without further damage. In the bottom half, Mann closed the door, working around a walk and inducing two groundouts before a sharp line drive to
Brylin Field at third ended the game. Eastern secured the 9–1 victory and advanced to the second elimination game of the day.
Game 2 - College of Idaho
Following a 90-minute lightning delay, Eastern returned to face College of Idaho in another elimination matchup, seeking redemption after suffering their only conference series loss to the Yotes earlier in the season.
College of Idaho struck first in the second inning, capitalizing on a walk and a hit-by-pitch, followed by a sacrifice bunt and an RBI single to take a 1–0 lead. Eastern threatened in the bottom half with a two-out double from Baumgart and a walk from
Kelly Monaghan, but couldn't convert.
Natalie Dimitrov entered in relief in the fourth inning after a leadoff double. She recorded a strikeout and a groundout, but a wild pitch allowed another run to score, extending the Yotes' lead to 2–0.
Kina Watts was dominant in the circle for College of Idaho, holding Eastern in check through the middle innings. The Yotes added to their lead in the sixth with an RBI single from Kamryn Ham to make it 3–0.
Eastern responded in the bottom of the sixth. Klippert led off with a single and stole second, followed by base hits from Lauerman and Barry to bring in a run. With the bases loaded, Baumgart drew a walk to cut the deficit to 3–2. However, Watts halted the rally with a pop-up and a groundout to preserve the lead.
College of Idaho added an insurance run in the seventh on a solo home run by Madelyn Powell. In the bottom half, the Yotes allowed just one single before closing out the 4–2 victory, ending Eastern's run in the conference tournament.
Up Next
Eastern Oregon now awaits the NAIA Selection Show on Wednesday to learn whether they will receive an at-large bid to the NAIA National Tournament Opening Rounds.
