Softball | 4/20/2012 6:12:00 PM

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

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Western Oregon battled the top team in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, Montana State Billings, to a doubleheader split on Friday, Apr. 20. MSU Billings came from behind to take game one 5-4, before the Wolves bounced back with a 5-4 win in game two.

The split kept WOU's GNAC record even at 14-14 (18-23 overall). MSU Billings is now 31-11 on the season and 24-6 in the GNAC.

Game 1
Montana State Billings scored two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to come from behind and earn a 5-4 win in the opener.

Western Oregon held a 4-1 lead after the third inning thanks to a three-run homer by Kendra George in the bottom of the inning. WOU carried this lead into the sixth before a two-run shot from MSUB's Meg Harasymczuk cut the lead back to one (4-3). The Yellowjackets would then rally for two more runs in the top of the seventh on a double by Jenna VanEykeren to claim the lead for good.

The Wolves would create a chance in the bottom of the seventh as they rallied to put two runners on with one out, but Yellowjackets' pitcher Jessyka MacDonald made the pitches to retire the next two batters and close the door on a Wolves' rally.

MacDonald (6-2) picked up the win for MSUB. She threw a complete game giving up five hits, four runs and three walks while striking out six.

The Wolves' Hannah Pomeroy (6-9) was saddled with the loss after the late comeback from the Yellowjackets. She went 6.2 innings, allowing nine hits and five runs while striking out six.

Amanda Evola collected two hits and an RBI for WOU, and George added those three RBI on her sixth home run of the season.

Game 2
Ashley Worthey and Danielle Harcourt each drove in two runs and Western Oregon held on for a 5-4 win in game two.

WOU rallied for three runs in the third on an RBI-single by Andrea Bailey and a two-out, two-run double by Harcourt. They tacked on two more in the fourth on two-out, bases loaded single by Ashley Worthey to extend their lead to 5-0.

The Yellowjackets would chip away at the lead with one run in the fifth and two more in the sixth. They would cut the Wolves' lead to one (5-4) on a solo home run by Nicole Colpron start the seventh. Western Oregon head coach Pam Knox then went to her bullpen and called on Eryka Brill. Brill would retire the next three batters in order to preserve the win for Myranda Sawyer (6-5) and pick up her second save of the season.

Sawyer, who has now won her last three decisions, went the first six innings for WOU giving up six hits and four runs (two earned) while striking out four.

Worthey was the only student-athlete on either team to have a multi-hit game. She went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Danyelle Hutchison came around the bases to score two runs after she was hit by pitch in each of her first two at bats. Andrea Bailey also scored two runs for the Wolves.

Next games
Western Oregon will now welcome in Saint Martin's on Apr. 21 for the final home games of the season. The games will begin at Noon with a Senior Day ceremony taking place prior to the first pitch.