Softball | 2/1/2013 6:00:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

LA JOLLA, Calif. – Senior hurler Hannah Pomeroy earned a complete game victory against the defending national runner-up as the Western Oregon softball team picked up a split in the season opening doubleheader against No. 2 UC San Diego, defeating the Tritons in game one, 5-1, before falling in game two, 6-2, on Friday afternoon.

WOU rode the arm of Pomeroy in the season opening victory as she allowed one unearned run while allowing five hits against the nationally-ranked Tritons.

Sophomore Amanda Evola got the season off to a bang as she hammered a two-run home run over the centerfield wall with one out in the top of the first to give the Wolves a 2-0 lead.

After the Tritons cut the lead in half with a run in the second, the Wolves would put the game away with a three-run outburst in the sixth-inning. WOU loaded the bases to open the inning as Danielle Harcourt drove home the first run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to score Lexi Orteza. Ashlie Gardner followed with a double to left-center field, scoring Jourdan Williams and Evola as the Wolves took a commanding four-run lead into the bottom of the inning.

Pomeroy would put the finishing touches on the win, retiring the Tritons in order in the seventh to give first-year WOU head coach Lonny Sargent a victory in his first contest with the Wolves.

Evola led the Wolves with two hits and two RBI in game one victory as WOU managed six hits off of Triton pitching.

Michelle Escamilla took the loss for UC San Diego, allowing five runs in 5.2 innings of work.

The win in game one snapped a string of six straight losses to UC San Diego in the series and was the first win over the Tritons since the 2005 season.

In game two, UC San Diego used a four-run outburst in the first inning to grab control of the game as the Tritons defeated the Wolves, 6-2, to split the doubleheader.

Mya Romero had the key hit in the frame as her three-run home run to left field gave the Tritons an early 3-0 lead.

After a pair of UC San Diego runs in the third made the score 6-0, the Wolves managed to get on the board with a pair of runs in the fifth. With runners on first and third and two outs, Evola doubled home Orteza and Melanie Pfeiffer to make ths score 6-2.

The Wolves would be unable to rally for the doubleheader sweep; however, as UC San Diego held on to pick up the split.

Williams took the loss for WOU, allowing six runs and eight hits in six innings of work. Kayla Hensel picked up the win for UCSD, allowing two runs on five hits in six innings in the circle.

The two teams will conclude the four-game series on Saturday, Feb. 2, with a doubleheader at 12:00 p.m.