Softball | 4/17/2010 4:13:49 PM

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

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Jessica Hallmark hit two home runs as the Western Oregon University softball swept a doubleheader from Saint Martin's, to pull into a tie with Central Washington for first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings.

The Wolves (24-14, 18-7 GNAC) have won five straight conference games and seven of their last eight to catch the Wildcats, who have been atop the GNAC standings all season. The losses dropped Saint Martin's to 16-28 on the season and 10-20 in league play.

Game 1
Jessica Wood (5-5) gave up just one hit after the first inning and pitched a complete game to lead WOU to a 2-1 victory in game one.

After Wood allowed one run and two hits in the first inning, she did not allow a runner past second base over the final six innings. She finished the game surrendering three hits and just the one run while striking out two and walking two.

Jessica Hallmark gave the Wolves the lead for good with a solo shot to left field in the fourth. Tyler Sutherland finished the game 3-for-3 with a double to account for nearly half of the Wolves' seven hits in the contest.

After falling behind 1-0 in the top of the first inning, the Wolves came back to tie it at 1-1 in the bottom of the second. With one out, Jessie Lessard doubled to right center, and then moved to third on a ground out by Stephanie Albrecht before scoring on a wild pitch.

Game 2
Jessica Hallmark homered for the fourth straight game and ran her hitting streak to eight consecutive games, as she went 1-for-3 with two RBI in a Wolves' 4-2 victory.

Jessie Lessard (5-6) and Brittany Reeves combined to hold the Saints to two runs. Lessard went the first five innings allowing six hits and two runs (one earned) while inducing 11 groundball outs. Reeves took over in the sixth and gave up just one hit to earn her second save of the season.

Ellen Bogardus got the Wolves on the board with her first home run of the season to tie the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. Hallmark's two-run shot in the fourth put WOU in front 3-1 and they would never trail again.

Saint Martin's outhit WOU 7-5 but left eight runners on base compared to three for the Wolves.

The Saints' Joslyn Eugenio was the only batter for either team to record a multi-hit game as she went 2-for-3 with a double.

Next games
These teams will play another doubleheader to cap off their four-game series tomorrow starting at 11:00 a.m. During the games WOU will be hosting a 'Pink Out' to raise support and awareness for breast cancer.