CANYON, Texas – Western Oregon softball defeated Newman in both games of the doubleheader during the first day of the West Texas A&M Lady Buff Invite on Friday.
 
While Western Oregon prevented Newman from scoring in the first game in a 2-0 decision, the Wolves came back in the second match with a walk-off victory, 4-3. The Wolves are now 5-6 overall this season, and Newman is 2-6.
 
GAME #1 – WESTERN OREGON 2, NEWMAN 0
In the first contest against the Jets, the game was scoreless until the top of the fourth and fifth innings when sophomore Zoe Clark and junior Destiny Kuehl scored Western Oregon's two runs.
 
Neither team was able to get on base until the third inning when the Wolves took a hit-by-pitch. Kuehl got the first hit of the game with a double.
 
In the fourth, Clark first got on base after singling to left field, and she eventually made it home after sophomore Alex Frazier reached on a fielder's choice. In the fifth, Kuehl drove a homerun to left field.
 
Kuehl led the Wolves, going 3-for-3 at bat. Juniors Kelsie Gardner and Mercedes Green as well as Clark each contributed one hit. Senior Alyson Boytz (2-2) pitched the full seven innings and allowed only one hit while striking out six batters.                                                                              
 
GAME #2 –WESTERN OREGON 4, NEWMAN 3
After warming up in the first game, Newman took the lead for the majority of the second match until the last inning when the Wolves stole the victory with a walk-off run.
 
Gardner, freshman Ryanne Huffman, and senior Brandy Knowles each had two hits for the Wolves. Frazier, Kuehl, as well as juniors Lexi Jennings and Ku'ulei Siolo each added a hit.
 
Sophomore pitcher Lizzet Dominguez (2-2) earned the win after stepping in for junior Sammi Cadwallader at the top of the fourth. Dominguez allowed one of Newman's five hits.
 
The Jets immediately got on the board in the top of the first inning as sophomore Taylor Mannis homered to left field, but the Wolves responded as Jennings blasted a homerun in the bottom of the second. However, the game didn't stay tied for long as Newman scored two runs in the third inning.
 
In the fifth, Western Oregon cut into Newman's lead when Kuehl, who had originally got on base with a double, scored an unearned run off of a throwing error. After doubling down the left field line, Frazier then tied up the contest with a run as Siolo's single brought Frazier home.
 
It all came down to the bottom of the seventh inning. Gardner's single looked promising for the Wolves, and after advancing to third base, she made the final stretch home for the walk-off run with the help of a sacrifice fly.
 
Up next, the Wolves will play a doubleheader against the tournament's host team, West Texas A&M, on Saturday, February 20. First pitches will be at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. central time.