Lady Mountaineers Softball Team Conclude Season with A Pair Of Wins
(Press Release 5-04-05)
Bobb Johnston, Athletics Dept.

The Eastern Lady Mountaineers concluded their regular season with two wins Tuesday over Texarkana, 8-1 and 2-0. They attained a 42-20-1 record heading into the Region II Tournament this Friday at Hall of Fame Stadium in Oklahoma City.

Eastern will be the fifth seed in the tournament with a 13-15 record in Region play. Eastern defeated every team in the Region at least once but also lost to every team in the Region at least once. Eastern will play Western at 2:00 p.m. on Friday on the Stadiul field and again at 7:00 p.m.if they win against the winner of Seminole and Rose State on Field 3. If they lose they will play at 4:00 p.m. on field 3 against the loser of Seminole and Rose State.

Rachael Christian was selected to the All Region 1st team at second base and nominated for All-American. Also making the All Region 2nd team were: Karla Pittman, pitcher; Somer Dykes, catcher; Bridgett Stewart, first base; Rebecca Buirrea, shortstop; Melissa Simms, third base; and Brittney Day, outfield. Three other Lady Mountaineers were named to the All Region Honorable Mention team, including: Ashley Graham, outfield; Cari Hamilton, outfield; and Lesley Boyd, DH.

In the first game on Tuesday every member of the lineup notched at least one hit with Ashley Graham, Melissa Simms, Rebecca Buirrea and Cari Hamilton each getting two hits apiece. Eastern pounded out 13 base hits with six players getting RBI’s led by Rachael Christian and Brittney Day with 2 apiece. Karla Pittman picked up her 26th win to move her record to 26-10, scattering six hits while striking out 4 and stranding 7 runners on base.

The second game saw something out of the ordinary for Eastern. Eastern was outhit for only the fifth time this season. Texarkana had 4 hits to only 3 by Eastern. Hillary Davis (14-8) handcuffed Texarkana spreading out their opportunities and striking out three. Eastern made the most out of their timely hitting with Rebecca Buirrea hitting her team leading sixth homerun for a walk off two run shot in the bottom of the seventh for the 2-0 win, Melissa Simms had walked earlier to reach base. Christian and Day had the other two hits for the Lady Mountaineers.

This group of Sophomores (Rebecca Buirrea, Crystal Burkett, Rachael Christian, Somer Dykes, Cari Hamilton and Bridgett Stewart) have now been part of 91 victories in their two year careers at Eastern with the Regional Tournament remaining. Karla Pittman, freshman from North Canton, Ohio, set the school record for wins by a freshman pitcher with 26.

Eastern finished Consolation Champions in the Ft. Worth Cowtown Classic and Runner-Ups in the Midwest JUCO Classic in Tulsa this Spring.