GU fights for third

Published 5:00 pm Tuesday, May 6, 2008

RIVERSIDE – The Grant Union softball team couldn’t get the bat on the ball last weekend.

Grant Union was shut out, 9-0 and 5-0, by Riverside Saturday, May 3. The Prospectors only had 11 hits during the doubleheader in Riverside. They also struck out 10 times and didn’t receive a single walk all day.

Despite the slow offense, Grant Union coach DeAnna Nash said she saw improvement from last season.

“We should have hit better, but we had 19 strikeouts against the same pitchers last season, and 10 this year,” Nash said. “There’s something to be said about being a year older.”

The Pirates on the other hand had no problem getting hits early Saturday. Riverside brought in six runs in the first inning of the first game. However, Grant Union helped them out with four errors in the inning. The Pros were able to hold them scoreless after the third inning, but couldn’t bring in any runs of their own.

Riverside had 12 hits in the first game and nine in the second game.

“In the first game we came out pretty shaky,” Nash said. “We settled down and were able to stop them later in the game.”

Taylor Croghan pitched both games earning four strikeouts and giving up five walks.

Due to the two losses Grant Union is no longer in control of their post season destiny. The Pros need Vale to lose at least one game to Elgin-Imbler Thursday to keep their playoff hopes alive. Grant Union will then host Vale at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Riverside is currently in first place in the Eastern Oregon League, and only has a doubleheader against last-place Burns, 1-9 in EOL play, remaining this season. Elgin-Imbler is the only team to beat Riverside, the teams split a doubleheader, and is the only other team with a chance to take first place this season.