CALDWELL, Idaho –
Cortni Pena tossed a four-hit shutout for the College of Idaho in Game 1 to a defacto postseason game, but Haley Hess lined a three-run double that was the difference for Eastern Oregon in Game 2, as the two rivals split a doubleheader at Symms Field.
On Senior Day, Pena kept the Mountaineers (23-21, 14-10 CCC) quiet in the opener, as the Yotes cruised to an 8-0 win. However, Hailey Kline struck out nine C of I batters in the nightcap, with the big blow from Hess giving EOU a 5-3 win.
The victory for Eastern clinched the No. 2 seed from the Cascade Conference East Division into the CCC Championships. A C of I win in Game 2 would have knocked EOU out of the playoffs and given the Yotes (17-20-1, 9-15) the final bid to the tournament.
C of I gave Pena all the run support she needed in the first inning of Game 1, as
Destiny Turner doubled and scored on an EOU error.
The Yotes would extend the lead to 3-0 in the fourth – capitalizing on two Mountaineers errors – adding a run in the fifth when
Katie Rowe doubled and trotted home on a Delany Atkins single. C of I would end the game in the sixth with a four-run outburst – as
Katelyn Geyer doubled home a pair and
Hailey Chambers and Atkins followed with run-scoring singles.
Pena walked three batters and struck out seven in recording her seventh career shutout – adding a pair of singles at the plate. Rowe, a fellow senior, was 3-for-4, with Atkins and
Kristin Paulazzo each adding two hits – part of a 14-hit attack.
EOU scored early in Game 2 and never relinquished the lead – as an RBI single by Marisa Gonzalez in the opening inning gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage. In the fourth, the Mounties would load the bases with two outs, with Hess driving a fly ball just over the outstretched glove of
Jodie Hoagland, clearing the bags for a 4-0 lead.
C of I tried to chip away at the deficit, as
Ashley Pesek doubled in a run in the fourth and singled home a run sixth to cut the margin to 5-2. In the seventh, Turner and Geyer roped back-to-back doubles, bringing the tying run to the plate, but Chambers popped up to end the contest.
Hailey Kline allowed three runs on six hits, striking out nine, to earn the win for the Mountaineers, with Hess going 3-for-4. Geyer and Pesek each had 2-for-3 outings in Game 2 for the Yotes.
The game marked the final collegiate contest for the three C of I seniors – Pena, Rowe and Hoagland.
