LACEY, Wash. - The Western Oregon softball team split a pair of games with host Saint Martin's in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action Saturday, May. 7. The Wolves took the first game 7-6 before SMU stole the second game 6-5.

The doubleheader marked the final contests for WOU this season, finishing 2011 with a record of 13-32 (10-23 GNAC). The Saint's end their season at 8-30 (7-26 GNAC).

Game One
The Wolves used three runs in the top of the seventh to earn the 7-6, come-from-behind win in Saturday's opener.

After both teams stumbled out of the gates, SMU got it rolling in their half of the second inning, scoring six runs on four hits. An RBI single started the rally before an error and a fielder's choice allowed two more runs to score. Back-to-back two-RBI doubles gave the hosts a seemingly insurmountable 6-0 lead.

Western responded with a third inning that saw SMU's lead cut to 6-3. Sophomore Andrea Bailey and senior Tierra-Lyn Cuba each delivered one-out singles, followed by an at-bat that saw senior Jessica Hallmark reach first on a fielder's choice. Senior Jessica Wood then delivered a two-out RBI double to left field, scoring Cuba and advancing Hallmark to third.

Junior Bailey Rueck used a single to plate Hallmark before advancing to second on an error by SMU's right fielder. The same error allowed Wood to score from second, trimming SMU's lead to three runs.

The Wolves tacked on another run in the fourth, this time on a solo homer from junior Kendra George. George's second round-tripper of the season narrowed the margin to 6-4.

While Western was making its comeback, Wood was giving the Saint's all kinds of fits in the circle. After their six-run second inning, Wood held SMU to just four hits, only one of which went for extra bases. She ceded two walks in the final five innings, striking out three.

WOU was able to take advantage of Wood's efforts, notching three runs in the top of the seventh, the last of which proved to be the game-winning run. Junior Danyelle Hutchinson led off the inning with a pinch-hit single to second. After a fly out, Cuba hit a double down the right-field line, moving Hutchinson to third. Hallmark, the school's all-time RBI leader, lived up to her ranking, providing a double to left that drove in both Hutchinson and Cuba, tying the game at 6-6.

After a second fly out, Rueck's at-bat produced a chopper that SMU's third baseman could not handle, allowing Hallmark to reach home, putting the visitors up 7-6.

The Saints tried to get a rally going in the bottom of the seventh, loading the bases with just one out, but consecutive fly outs ended any home for a comeback.

Wood (5-19) got credit for the win in her tenth complete game of the season.

SMU's Brandi Klemm (4-15), who went the distance for the Saints, was saddled with the loss.

Hallmark accounted for four of WOU's seven runs, crossing the plate twice while driving in two more. Cuba was a perfect 3-for-3 with two runs scored.

Game Two
It was Saint Martin's turn to play spoiler in Saturday's nightcap, using a bases-loaded hit by pitch to win 6-5.

Much like the day's first game, both squads could not generate any early offense. The Wolves took a 1-0 lead in the third when an error by SMU's third baseman allowed Hallmark to score. After a double play, Hallmark hit a single up the middle, followed by a double down the right-field line from Rueck. Junior Kendra George's subsequent at-bat produced the error that plated Hallmark.

Western would score two more runs in the fourth thanks an RBI single and another fielding error. Freshman Ashley Cashin opened the frame with a single to left field, but was called out on a fielder's choice in freshman Ali Parkerson's at-bat that followed. Parkerson used a ground out to reach second, after which Bailey drove her in with a single.

Bailey managed to get all the way to third on the same play before an error by SMU's second baseman allowed her to score, giving WOU a 3-0 lead.

Saint Martin's responded with a two-run fourth, using a home run from Kaneshiro to trim Western's lead to 3-2. SMU would take its first lead at 5-3 in the bottom of the sixth behind a pair of RBI singles and a sacrifice fly.

Hallmark led off the Wolves' final frame, driving a shot over the left-center wall for her 15th home run of the season. Rueck's at-bat produced a single before a sacrifice bunt from George advanced her to second. Hutchinson was then called on to pinch hit, reaching first base on a fielder's choice that also failed to get Rueck out, putting her on third.

During Cashin's at-bat, Hutchinson broke for second base. In an attempt to get the pick-off, SMU's catcher committed her team's sixth error, giving Rueck a chance to score and tie the game at 5-5. Hutchinson would reach third on Cashin's ground out before being tagged out in a pickle on the third-base line.

SMU would load the bases with just one out thanks to two walks and a single. A fielder's choice resulted in an out at home plate, but the host's next batter was hit by a pitch, forcing in the game-ending run.

Hillmick (7-12) took the loss in 1.2 innings of relief. Junior Kelsey White started the game in the circle, pitching five innings.

Eugenio (5-14) claimed the win for the Saints in a complete outing.

Rueck was 3-for-4 at the plate with a run. Hallmark went 2-for-2 with an RBI and two runs.