>La Grande Observer | Union and Wallowa Counties' News Leader

Added pressure, no problem.

The EOU softball team didn’t take long to blow the top off the celebration Saturday against Southern Oregon University.

Not only was it senior day, but it also marked the first games officially played at Peggy Anderson Field.

“It was a big day,” Mountaineers head coach Missy Wheeler said. “The girls knew it, and responded. There wasn’t any need for a pre-game talk.”

No, before the game Anderson took care of that. The former athletic director who helped bring the sport to the school was all the motivation EOU needed.

Anderson fired the first pitch — a bit high.

From there senior Kelly West followed in the footsteps, like many others, supplied by Anderson.

West allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits in six innings of work.

The Mountaineer offense supplied West with all the runs she would need in the first inning.

Senior Michelle St. John opened the game by firing a shot over her number on the outfield fence, 1-0.

All the seniors had their numbers woven into the fence.

Maybe they should have done it early.

After Melodee Mildenberger drew a walk, Lydia Holm shot another ball over the white numbers.

“We had to keep our emotions in check,” Holm said. “The key was to not get too hyped up. We knew how important this day was. Not only for the seniors, but for everyone watching. It was for us. But it was also for (Peggy Anderson).”

The opening game fireworks didn’t stop there.

Junior Megan Platz capped the scoring with a two-run home run in the fourth.

Melodee Mildenberger came in to wrap up the 7-2 win.

Game 2 featured a different kind of excitement. The kind Wheeler could have done with out.

EOU hung on to complete the sweep 3-2.

Senior Teri Cisler pitched a gem. She pitched six shut-out innings, striking out three.

Cisler decided to help her own cause in the third. Following a double by Holm, she hit a two out single scoring Holm from third.

Everyone in attendance had a feeling of deja vu in the fifth.

Platz drilled an offering by Joelle Riekman over the right field fence — a few feet from her home run in the opening game. 

Then the excitement started.

Justine Cooper singled with two outs in the seventh inning against Mildenberger.

Again a strike from ending the game, Mildenberger walked Savannah Sanitos.

The Raiders followed with three singles, but greed ended the game.

Alicia Caudill was thrown out at home.

EOU will host Walla Walla at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Game 1

SOU    001 100 0    —    2 5 3

EOU    320 200 x    —    7 9 1

W — West. L — Caudill. 2B— SOU, Greiss, Simon. HR— SOU, Stratton; EOU, St. John, Holm, Platz.

Game 2

SOU    001 100 2    —    2 7 2

EOU    001 020 x    —    3 6 0

W — West. L — Reikman. 2B— EOU, Holm, Cisler. HR— EOU, Platz.