(Editor’s note: University of Providence and Eastern Oregon athletics releases)
The University of Providence softball team (7-20, 7-14 CCC) suffered a pair of losses on Saturday as Eastern Oregon (10-27, 5-16 CCC) claimed a 7-1 victory in game three to win the series and closed out the day with a 12-3 run-rule victory.
GAME ONE SATURDAY – University of Providence 1 – Eastern Oregon 7
How it Happened: Eastern Oregon took the early lead in the third game of the series. The Mountaineers would get one on third with one out, before a two-out RBI-single would put them on the board first, 1-0.
The lead was extended to two in the second as a fielder’s choice for the Argos’ second out would allow another run through to give Eastern Oregon a 2-0 lead after two.
The Mountaineers kept things going in the third as a one-out fielder’s choice would bring home the Mountaineers third run of the contest, 3-0.
The Argos were able to find success in the fourth as they cut the deficit back to two. Karlie Southworth would get on board with one out. Shelby McMillen would then knock a two-out RBI-single to bring Southworth home and get the Argos on the board, 3-1.
Two more runs came in for Eastern Oregon in the fifth inning as a one-out 2-RBI double would extend the Mountaineers lead to four, 5-1.
Eastern Oregon would plate their final pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. An Argo fielding error would put the lead-off batter on base, before a pair of singles would bring two more home and seal the game for the Mountaineers, 7-1.
At the Plate: McMillen was efficient with her at-bats in the contest, going 1-for-2 and knocking in the Argos’ run. Southworth, Hanna Tarum, Olivia Warren, and Skyla Nuebauer tallied the Argos four other hits in the contest.
In the Circle: Brieanna Clifford (2-8) earned the defeat for the Argos, pitching 4.1 innings and letting five runs score on six hits, in addition to tallying three strikeouts. VanDomelen closed things out, allowing two runs on two hits in 1.2 innings pitched.
GAME TWO SATURDAY – University of Providence 3 – Eastern Oregon 12
How it Happened: The series finale started off with a bang for both squads. The Argos scored first in the contest as a fielder’s choice and a double would put a pair of runners in scoring position before Warren stepped up to deliver a 3-RBI bomb home run to give the Argos the three-run advantage, 3-0. The Argos lead was short-lived however as the Mountaineers tallied seven runs in the bottom of the frame to take a 7-3 lead.
Eastern Oregon plated four more in the bottom of the second to extend their lead to eight, 11-3, heading into the third inning.
One final run came across for Eastern Oregon in the bottom of the third as they would take a nine-run lead, 12-3.
The Argos would notch one more hit in the top of the fourth, but they just couldn’t get out of the hole from the opening inning and eventually Eastern closed things out in the fifth by run-rule, 12-3.
At the Plate: Warren led the Argos with the huge 3-RBI home run in the first, going 1-for-2 on the day. Southworth also had a great game as she was perfect at the plate, going 2-for-2 in the contest.
In the Circle: KJ Schweikert (0-5) took the loss, pitching four innings and allowing 12 runs on six hits and putting away three batters.
Up Next
The Argos will head south to Ashland, Ore. as they take on the Raiders of Southern Oregon for their final road series of the regular season on April 19 and 20. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. (MT) on Friday and 12 p.m. (MT) on Saturday.
GAME 1 FRIDAY | Eastern Oregon 7, Providence 6
The Mountaineers finished with nine hits in the game, use clutch at-bats and some Argo miscues to take the opening game of the series. Trailing 5-2 through four innings, EOU scored five runs in the final three frames while sophomore Amanda Smith pitched three strong innings in relief to keep the Mountaineers in the game.
EOU pulled to within one run in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs thanks to three errors by Providence. With runners on first and second, Providence made two errors after a failed pickoff throw to allow senior Brandi Bowling to score from second and junior Jordan Henley to reach third. Henley scored later in the at-bat, as senior Sarah Bonner’s hard ground ball was misplayed by the Argos.
In the sixth inning, freshman Shelby Starr led off with a double, followed by a walk by senior Rayne Spencer. Senior Madi Barr moved the runners over with a sacrifice bunt. Bowling hit a sacrifice fly to score Starr to tie the game 5-5. Then, freshman Haley Ebner and Henley hit back-to-back RBI singles to put the Mounties ahead 7-5.
Despite a solo home run by UP’s Karlie Southworth in the seventh, EOU held on for the 7-6 victory.
Rayne Spencer led the offense, finishing 2-for-2 with two runs, an RBI, two walks and a stolen base. Henley was 2-for-3 with a run and RBI.
GAME 2 FRIDAY | Providence 5, Eastern Oregon 1
Providence jumped out to a 4-0 lead after scoring two runs in both the first and second innings. The Mounties answered with a run in the bottom of the second on an RBI double by Bonner, scoring Starr. However, EOU was held to just the one run and four total hits as the Argos’ Brieanna Clifford cruised through seven innings.
Bowling, Ebner, Bonner and Henley recorded the hits for EOU. Junior Jessica Lambert came in relief and threw five strong innings while allowing just one run with four strikeouts.
