A hot start to Columbia River Conference plays for the HRV softball team continued Tuesday with the Eagles’ third consecutive victory over the Hermiston Bulldogs, this time in an 8-2 decision on the road.
Not since the 2013-14 season — back when Eagle ace Kayla Byers helped take the team to the semifinal game of the 5A state tournament — has HRV softball (9-7, 3-0 CRC) enjoyed a three-game win streak during the CRC schedule. The win allowed HRV to lock-up the four-game season series over the Bulldogs (6-10, 0-3).
“The girls have put in tremendous work to get to this point,” said Head Coach Eric Keller. “They set a goal and showed incredible diligence in finding success.”
HRV’s decisive victory was anchored by another stellar seven-inning effort by starting pitcher Hannah McNerney, who sent eight disappointed batters back to the Hermiston bench, only relinquishing six hits and one earned run. Now that the league schedule is underway, McNerney has been especially busy, pitching in 16 of the team’s last 21 innings.
“Hannah has been strong all season. During the nonleague schedule, we were focused on getting the pitchers work and finding our best lineup. Now that the lineup has solidified, we are able to lean on Hannah in the circle,” Keller explained.
McNerney’s arm helped prevent Hermiston from gaining an advantage over what was a sluggish HRV offense during the early innings. HRV drew first blood after capitalizing on a series of defensive mistakes by Hermiston, which culminated in Lorena Johnson scoring in the bottom of the third, serving as a courtesy runner for Makenzie Chambers. The Bulldogs tied it up in the fourth when Hermiston’s Ashley Cameron stole home with two outs on the board.
HRV’s offense got a morale boost in the fifth when, after fouling off twice, Kaylin Winans hit a home run (her second of the year), crushing a fly ball to left. The Eagles then erupted to score six runs over the next two innings. Hermiston put up another run in their last at bat, but that was all.
While the offense took a little time to get going, it was a true team effort, with eight players responsible for the Eagles’ 11 hits, including Haylee Baker (1-for-3, single, two stolen bases), Lauren Decker (1-for-4, single), McNerney (1-for-2, single, RBI), Makena Zeller (1-for-3, single), Winans (2-for-4, single, homer, RBI, stolen base), Zoe Munn (2-for-4, singles, RBI, stolen base), Chambers (2-for-4, singles, two RBIs), and Emilie Ellifritz (1-for-4 single, two RBIs).
“I am really excited about how deep our offensive lineup is at this point,” Keller said. “There is strength one through nine; they can all hit for extra bases and execute any phase of our offense.”
The Eagles will need that offense to come through for them Saturday if they are to defeat the third-ranked Pendleton Buckaroos (15-2, 3-0), who have been stingy this season on defense, allowing a 5A-low 27 runs. HRV, currently ranked seventh, will play a doubleheader at Pendleton, where the Bucks have yet to lose this year.
“Pendleton is going to be a strong opponent. It is always a difficult environment to get a win, it is a true home field advantage for them. We know that it will take our best effort to come away with a ‘W,’” Keller admitted. “We have been tested in our non-league schedule in order to prepare for an opponent like Pendleton. The focus will be on playing our best softball and being confident we did the best we were capable of.”
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