By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Mia Lund (So., CF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) of Willamette University hit an RBI double and scored a run, but Eastern Oregon University defeated the Bearcats, 8-3, on Saturday, Feb. 12 at the WU Softball Field. EOU starting pitcher Amanda Smith tossed a complete game and held Willamette to just two hits.
The Mountaineers led 4-0 after two-and-a-half innings, but the Bearcats scored two runs in the bottom of the third to pull within 4-2. Eastern Oregon added a run in the fourth inning, two runs in the fifth, and one in the sixth for an 8-2 advantage.
Lund doubled to start the bottom of the sixth, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a ground out by Gianna Marchese (Sr., 3B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.) to reduce the margin to 8-3. The Bearcats limited EOU to a two-out single in the top of the seventh, but Willamette was unable to score in the bottom of the inning.
The Bearcats are 1-2 on the season. Eastern Oregon, playing its season opener, moved to 1-0. The teams will conclude their three-game series with a doubleheader on Sunday, Feb. 13. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. (PST).
Caitlin Crist opened the game for the Mountaineers with a double to center field. She advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Madison Stateler and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by Hannah Tyree. EOU increased its lead to 4-0 with a trio of runs in the top of the third.
The third inning began with a bunt single toward the circle by Karsyn Zaragoza. An error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Rhyanne Oates sent Zaragoza to third, while Oates reached second. One out later, Stateler provided a sacrifice bunt on a fielder's choice that moved Oates to third base, while Zaragoza scored by edging out the throw home. Oates scored on a wild pitch and Stateler crossed the plate on a ground out by Tyree.
With one out in the bottom of the third, Adele Benny (Jr., OF, Bee Cave, TX/Lake Travis HS) of Willamette was hit by a pitch. Benny stole second and then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Brianna Majors (Jr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) also was hit by a pitch and stole second. Kendra Knapp (Jr., OF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) walked to load the bases. Lund batted next and hit the ball toward second base. Knapp was put out at second, but Benny scored from third. An error on the play allowed Majors to score, while Lund advanced to second. WU trailed 4-2.
Eastern Oregon's four runs during the Mountaineers' next three at bats increased the lead to six runs. Back-to-back doubles with one out by Grace Gaither and Kayla Berg added the lone run in the fourth. In the fifth Gaither tacked on a 2-RBI double. In the sixth, Oates hit a bunt single to third base with one out. Oates stole second with two outs. She scored when a fly ball by Stateler was dropped in left field.
Smith struck out six Bearcats while recording the two-hitter. She gave up two walks and hit two batters. At the plate, Gaither went 3 for 4 with a run, two doubles, and two RBIs. Cris, Berg, and Haley Ebner each hit a double, while Tyree drove in two runs.
For the Bearcats, Majors earned a single in the second inning to go with Lund's double in the sixth. Lund was 1 for 3 with a run and an RBI. Major finished 1 for 3 and scored one run. Marchese registered one RBI.
Jordyn Johnson (So., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) of Willamette fell to 0-2 with the loss. She allowed seven runs and seven hits in five innings, but only four runs were earned. She also struck out three batters. Relief pitcher Kenna Davis (Fy., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) allowed one run and two hits, while striking out one batter over the final two innings.
