LA GRANDE — Kaylie Hoskins delivers the goods in the circle, and Madison Olson and Katelynn Evans take care of business at the plate, helping the Eastern Oregon University softball team to the No. 15 ranking in the NAIA national poll.

The trio has the Mountaineers playing solid ball this spring. They are 18-5 overall and 10-2 in the Cascade Collegiate Conference.

“It’s a good start,” EOU coach Nicole Christian said. “Knowing what we recruited, and battling D-I schools in the fall, I thought we should be in that area. We have an absolute stellar conference that helps us prepare for the postseason, if we get there. I brought in 18 new girls and have 12 returners. We want to work on changing the culture. Girls who want to go out, compete and win a national title.”

After splitting a four-game series with British Columbia March 15-16, the Mountaineers got back on track this past weekend at Warner Pacific University in Portland. Eastern Oregon swept a three-game set, outscoring the Knights 31-2 over the weekend.

“They are at the bottom of our conference, but they are the team you don’t want to play,” Christian said prior to the series. “When they get going, they are dangerous. I thought the years before were tough, but this is the toughest the league has been. We have four teams ranked in the top 25, and there are 10 teams. We are only three weeks in, and we have to take care of the teams below us.”

That’s where Hoskins, Olson and Evans come in.

Hoskins, in her second year with EOU, is a native of Lake Stevens, Washington. Last year, she was a first-team all-conference selection and a second-team NAIA All-American.

As if that wasn’t enough, she also was named the CCC newcomer of the year last year, set the CCC and EOU single-season strikeout record with 310 and set a CCC record with 16 shutouts. She had five no-hitters, and opponents’ batting average against her was .134.

“We were lucky to get her,” Christian said. “It took me four months recruiting and getting her on campus. It was a huge game changer. At this level you have to have the pitching. We had a couple of good pitchers before, but we didn’t have that standout pitcher like she is. They don’t come along like her and Kylie (Parsons). It’s that one-two punch that coaches want. I’m super excited with our pitching staff. It took me a while to get Kylie. We have the lowest ERA in the conference, which is below 2. They are going to keep us in games.”

This season, the 5-foot-8 left-handed pitcher has thrown 72 innings with 129 strikeouts. Hoskins has given up 36 hits, but has only nine earned runs to her credit and a sterling 1.13 ERA with a 8-3 record.

She also has allowed just one double, one triple and two home runs among the 36 hits.

Hoskins said she expected the Mounties to have a good start, and she likes working with Parsons, a 2021 graduate of Pendleton.

“We have a lot of depth and hardworking girls,” she said. “It’s nice to have a No. 2 (Parsons) who is very reliable. It’s a breath of fresh air to have her around. She’s a great spirit to have around off the field too.”

After this weekend with Warner Pacific, EOU gets to the heart of its schedule with No. 21 College of Idaho (April 5-6), and No. 10 Southern Oregon (April 26-27). The Mountaineers already won two of three games against No. 5 Oregon Tech.

“We definitely use the rankings to see our progress, and how we want to keep going up in the rankings,” Hoskins said. “It’s nice to see our conference in the rankings. When I face those teams, I try to get as relaxed as possible. I go out there and do what I can do, it doesn’t matter who we play. I am a very competitive person to a fault. I like to prove people wrong.”

Evans had a sparkling resume when she arrived at EOU. A graduate of Newberg High School, she played at Southwestern Oregon Community College where she was named an NWAC All-American and helped the Lakers win the 2023 NWAC title.

This season the 5-6 outfielder is hitting .386 in 57 at-bats with 22 hits, including one home run and 13 RBIs. She also has 15 stolen bases.

“She is just killing it right now at the plate and steals bases for us as well,” Christian said of Evans. “She is selective at the plate, only attacking strikes. She is competitive. She was what we were looking for.”

Olson, a junior, hails from Moses Lake, Washington. She played two seasons at Columbia Basin College, where she was an NWAC All-American at third base before arriving in La Grande.

Olson is hitting .367 in 49 at-bats. She has 18 hits, including six doubles, two home runs and 12 RBIs. In the field, she has just one error in 44 chances.

“We lost our all-American third baseman the year before,” Christian said. “We had a couple of (junior college) third basemen last year, but Olson has come in and done well with her bat. Her batting average and just one error is huge.”

Christian also pointed out a few other players who have contributed to the hot start for the Mounties.

“We have the Tyree sisters (Hannah and Haley) who are consistent and have been solid for us,” she said. “Karly Hanosky has done a great job for us in the designated hitter role. Everyone has made contributions.”