LA JOLLA, Calif. – In their final two games of the weekend at Triton Softball Field, Western Oregon softball took a pair of losses against UC San Diego, 3-2, and Metropolitan State, 6-2, on Saturday.
After the weekend, the Wolves fell to 1-3 and 0-0 in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, while the UC San Diego Tritons improved to 5-1 (0-0 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association), and the Metro State Roadrunners improved to 1-3 (0-0 in the PacWest Conference).
Against the Tritons, junior
Kelsie Gardner registered a double, while freshman
Ryanne Huffman tallied two hits, and sophomore
Zoe Clark, junor
Hailee Watilo, and junior
Lexi Jennings each added one hit. Senior
Alyson Boytz received her first loss of the season, falling to 1-1, after pitching all six innings and allowing four hits.
Against the Roadrunners, Gardner and Clark each had two hits, while Jennings, senior
Brandy Knowles, and junior
Destiny Kuehl each contributed one hit. On the mound, sophomore
Lizzet Dominguez dropped to 0-2 after pitching 4.2 innings. She allowed five hits and five runs, but she did manage to strike out three. Senior
Stephanie Morgan stepped in after Dominguez for 1.1 innings and conceded two hits.
GAME #1 – UC SAN DIEGO 3, WESTERN OREGON 2 The Wolves got on the board first as Watilo sent a homer up the middle during the second inning. In the third, after Gardner doubled down the left field line, and Huffman singled to left field, Gardner made the run home to increase the Wolves' lead.
The Tritons snapped back in the bottom of the third when Taylor Abeyta advanced to third after drawing a walk, and Kelsi Mayday's single brought Abeyta home.
UC San Diego scored their final two runs in the fifth inning. Following Kendall Baker's walk and Mayday's double to left center, Baker ran home to tie up the game. The Tritons claimed the win when Mayday scored an unearned run.
The Triton's Lexi Edwards pitched four innings on the mound, allowing five hits and striking out three. Lauren Brown claimed her second win of the season, pitching three innings and striking out one batter.
GAME #2 – METRO STATE 6, WESTERN OREGON 2 The Roadrunners earned the first three runs of the game with the first one taking place in the second inning. Cassidy Smith drew a walk, and after stealing second and then third, she was able to score an unearned run off of a fielding error.
In the bottom of the fourth, Smith nearly scored again, but shortstop Jennings threw the ball to junior catcher
Mercedes Green for the out at home. However, two more runs came in the fourth inning for Metro State as Harley Huser and Ashlee Kim both scored.
The Wolves earned their first run in the fifth inning. Kuehl started Western Oregon off as she doubled to right center. With the help of a fielding error and a balk from Metro State, Huffman advanced to two bases, pushing Gardner—who had walked—to third and eventually allowing Kuehl to score an unearned run. The Roadrunners responded in the bottom of the inning with two runs of their own when Huser doubled up the middle and earned two runs batted in after Liberty Nelson and Smith made it home.
Metro State added onto their lead with one final run in the sixth inning. Hayley Fields's single put her on base, and Colissa Bakovich's double later advanced Fields to third, but it was Serena Espinoza's bunt that eventually brought Fields home.
In the top of the seventh, Western Oregon made one last effort and was able to get a run out of it. Jennings first doubled to right field, and although Kuehl flied out, Jennings advanced to third. Gardner's single to left field ultimately allowed Jennings to score.
Metro State's pitcher, Haley Fields, earned her first win as she is 1-2 this season. She also struck out five batters.
The Wolves will travel to St. George, Utah for the Dixie State Tournament on Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 14. Along with the tournament host team, Western Oregon will compete against Western New Mexico, UH Hilo, and Cal Baptist.
