BURNABY, B.C. – In two very different ways, the Western Oregon softball team swept Saturday's doubleheader over Simon Fraser at Beedie Field. Allison Boytz tossed her second complete-game shut out of the year in the Wolves' 2-0 opening win. The nightcap featured a comeback from five runs down as WOU took a 6-5 victory.
Western Oregon improved to 9-10 on the season while pulling even at 2-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
GAME ONE: Western Oregon 2, Simon Fraser 0Boytz was dominant for Western Oregon in the series opener. She allowed three hits - singles in the first, third and sixth innings – while striking out four in notching her fourth win of the season.
"Ally pitched great," head coach
Lonny Sargent said postgame. "She kept SFU's batters off balance and got the ball to our defense, who really stepped up."
WOU got all the offense to support Boytz in the top of the third inning.
Destiny Kuehl plated pinch-runner
Courtney Lau Hee with a RBI double. Later in the inning, a grounder from
Brandy Knowles brought in Kuehl for a 2-0 lead.
The Wolves had half of their hit output in the fateful second inning and took advantage to two SFU errors.
GAME TWO: Western Oregon 6, Simon Fraser 5The Wolves played the comeback game after falling behind 5-0 after the Clan scored three times in the first inning and twice more in the third.
"This team believes they can comeback from any deficit," Sargent said. "Being down by five early was tough, but our offense just has a way to get it done."
WOU began their rally with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. In the span of four hits and one hit batter, the Wolves plated two runs and had the bases loaded.
Ryanne Huffman and
Ku'ulei Siolo followed by each drawing walks to earn RBIs in slicing the Clan's lead to 5-4.
Sammi Cadwallader entered the circle and did not allow a hit until the seventh inning. She stabilized the game, allowing WOU to grab the lead in the fifth inning.
Ashlee Lynch led off the inning with a solo homer to center field, tying the game at 5-5. Two batters later,
Emma Alfonso pushed the Wolves ahead with another homer, this time to right field, for a 6-5 lead.
The WOU advantage was tested in the bottom of the seventh as the Clan had runners at second and third with one out. A fly ball lifted to center field was grabbed by
Zoe Clark, who fired home well ahead of the tagging runner. Siolo made a good throw to Kuehl who tagged the runner between third and home for the final out.
"Once again, our defense made a phenomenal play at the end to win," Sargent added.
The Wolves will continue their weekend road trip Sunday with a doubleheader at Western Washington, beginning at 10 a.m.
