PENDLETON, Ore.   – Weekend number two of the Cascade Collegiate Conference season didn't go as well as the first as NCU was swept by Eastern Oregon University over the four-game set. The Mounties claimed all three conference games and added a victory in the non-conference clash as well.
 
The Beacon bats continued to produce, averaging over seven hits per game. Tra Kucera (pictured) led the Beacons with six hits, going .545 over the weekend. Alyssa Gayle continued her power production as she hit .455 with five hits, collecting three home runs and six RBI.
 
Game One: Eastern Oregon 10, Northwest Christian 2 (5 innings)
 
Senior pitcher Hailey Kline got Eastern off on the right foot on Saturday, throwing a one-hitter as the Mounties claimed the run-rule victory. That lone hit was a solo homer from Gayle in the first inning, but EOU scored three runs in the first and third, added a run in the fourth and then finished off the victory with three in the fifth. Gayle (2-4) threw four strikeouts in the circle.
 
Game Two: Eastern Oregon 11, Northwest Christian 9
 
The Beacons rallied from a 9-2 deficit with a seven-run third inning, only to see the Mounties post two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to claim the victory. Kucera, Gayle, Avery Daniels, and Ciera Farias each had two hits for the Beacons as they posted 13 hits in the game. Sabrina Guerra (1-4) took the loss for the Beacons while Emma Jegtvig threw 4.1 innings of solid relief, allowing just two runs on four hits while striking out six.
 
Game Three: Eastern Oregon 12, Northwest Christian 0 (5 innings)
 
NCU was shutout once again although they collected five hits against Kline. Jegtvig took the loss, allowing just five earned runs as the Beacons were victimized by six errors. Kucera went 3-for-3 at the plate with a double and a stolen base for Northwest Christian.
 
Game Four: Eastern Oregon 16, Northwest Christian 7 (six innings)
 
Leading 7-5 as the teams headed to the sixth inning, the Beacons fell apart as they allowed 11 Mounties to cross the plate, invoking the run-rule. Errors once again played a part as Madi Jones (0-3) took the loss despite giving up just one earned run in one inning of relief work.
 
Gayle again carried the offensive load, hitting 2-for-3 with five RBI as she punched two home runs including a fifth-inning grand slam. Jones went 3-for-3 with an RBI and Jessica Garner picked up her 12th stolen base of the season. Garner has now moved into a tie for the NCU career stolen bases record at 43.
 
 
The Beacons will continue their CCC schedule this weekend, traveling to Salem to take on No. 5 ranked Corban University. Friday's double-header begins at 2:00 pm while Saturday's will start at 11:00 am.