Softball | 2/28/2010 8:44:33 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 [Game 1 box score] [Game 2 box score]

ELLENSBURG, Wash. - The Western Oregon University softball team split a doubleheader with Central Washington, dropping game one 10-5 before bouncing back to win game two 9-5, on the first day of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play, Sunday, Feb. 28.

With the split the Wolves are now 2-1 on the season and 1-1 in the GNAC, while the Wildcats went to 1-3 and 1-1 in conference.

Game 1
Central Washington scored four runs in the fifth and three more in the sixth to come from behind and win the opener 10-5.

Samantha Petrich and Kelsey Haupert both had four RBI while recording just one hit apiece to lead the Wildcats' offense. Leadoff batter Danielle Monson and Petrich both scored three times, while Jennifer Schwartz and Taylor Trautmann each crossed the plate twice.

Bailey Rueck and Jessie Lessard each knocked in two runs to lead the Wolves. Rueck, who had a home run and a double, was the only Wolf to record a multi-hit game.

Western Oregon scored one in the first inning, but Central answered with three in the bottom half of the inning to take a 3-1 advantage.

The Wolves took the lead back in the fourth with a four-run outburst. Rueck led off the inning a solo shot to left center field, then after an out Jessica Hallmark and Ellen Bogardus hit back-to-back doubles to tie the game at 3-3. However, WOU was not done there as the pitcher Lessard helped out her own cause with a two-run homer to left.

Central would rally with a four-run inning of its own in the fifth. It scored three runs off bases loaded walks and the other off a sacrifice fly to jump on top 7-5. CWU added three more in the sixth on a double by Haupert.

Katriina Reime (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Wildcats, as she held the Wolves to two hits over the last 3.2 innings. Lessard (0-1) took the loss for WOU.

Game 2
Bailey Rueck went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and Western Oregon put up five runs in the first inning take down Central Washington 9-5 in game two.

The top three batters in the Wolves' order, Tyler Sutherland, Andrea Bailey and Rueck, combined to go 6-for-10 with seven runs scored and five stolen bases to propel WOU to the win. Jessica Hallmark and Kendra George had two RBI apiece. Ellen Bogardus and Sutherland both posted two hits.

Stephanie Albrecht (1-0) earned the win in relief, while Lindy Baxter (0-1) was saddled with the loss.

The Wolves scored five runs in the first, four of which were unearned. They added three more in the fourth, as Sutherland led off the inning with a home run and Hallmark doubled in Bailey and Rueck.

Danielle Monson (2-for-5) was the only Wildcat to record a multi-hit performance.

Next games
These two teams will conclude their four-game series with another doubleheader tomorrow (Mar. 1) beginning at 11:00 a.m.