KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – A Top-25 match-up lived up to its billing, as No. 5-ranked Oregon Tech and No. 13-ranked Eastern Oregon opened the Cascade Conference softball season with matching 3-2 victories at Stilwell Stadium.
Eastern (2-2, 1-1 CCC) got a pair of home runs from Hannah Tyree in the opener to claim the victory, while Tech capitalized on three Mountaineers errors to earn the win in the nightcap.
Jayce Seavert went 3-for-3 in the opener for the Lady Owls (8-2, 1-1), with
Puakea Milbourne leading Tech with a 3-for-3 effort in Game 2.
Tyree was the story in the early game, staking EOU to a 1-0 lead in the second with a line drive home run over the left field wall. OIT answered in the last of the fourth, as Seavert laced a 2-out, 2-run single through the right side to score
Zoe Allen and Milbourne, giving the hosts a 2-1 lead.
The Mounties catcher responded in the sixth, lacing a 2-run shot over the centerfield wall to give the visitors the lead – with EOU starter Kylie Parsons retiring 9-of-10 batters to close out the win.
Tyree finished 3-for-3 with a double, two homers and three RBI, with Parsons holding the Tech offense to five singles, striking out five.
Kacie Schmidt was the tough-luck loser, striking out seven in a complete game effort.
EOU struck first in the nightcap, as Hope Burke lined a 2-out RBI single to center in the opening frame to stake the Mounties to the lead. OIT answered in the bottom of the frame, as a 2-out throwing error allowed both Allen and Milbourne to score – giving the hosts the lead.
The lead was short-lived, as Emily Barry tied the score with one swing, a second inning solo homer just inside the left field foul pole – but OIT regained the lead in the third, as a dropped throw at first with two outs allowed Milbourne to score from second – giving Tech the 3-2 lead.
OIT pitching did the rest, as
Carli Moore worked out of a bases loaded one-out jam in the fifth with a pair of strikeouts and Schmidt got the final outs in the sixth with the bases loaded – including a
Malia Mick diving catch in center to preserve the lead.
Alli Parker earned the win, striking out three in four-plus innings of work, limiting EOU to just four hits. Moore logged a hold with a scoreless inning, with Schmidt getting the final six outs for her fifth career save.
The series concludes tomorrow at 11 a.m. with a doubleheader – with Game 1 a CCC counter and Game 2 a non-conference matchup.
