MONMOUTH, Ore. – Junior Emma Alfonso had the game-winning runs batted in with a double in game one while junior Kelsie Gardner beat out a sharply hit infield single in the bottom of the eighth inning in the nightcap as the Western Oregon softball team defeated visiting Concordia twice on Senior Day, 4-3 and 3-2.
 
The doubleheader sweep moved the Wolves into third place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference with a 16-10 league record and 28-21 overall. CU fell to 29-20 on the season and slipped into fourth place with a 14-10 GNAC mark.
 
GAME ONE: WOU 4, Concordia 2
A single run in the first inning and three tallies in the second was enough offense for senior pitcher Alyson Boytz to work with as the Wolves held off the Cavaliers for a 4-3 victory.
 
WOU went to work offensively in the first inning by loading the bases with one out. Lexi Jennings put the Wolves on the scoreboard with a bloop single that fell just inside the foul line in left field to score Alfonso from third base. CU quickly responded with a run in the top of the second, but settled for a tie after leaving the bases loaded.
 
Equally as quick as the Cavalier tied the game, the Wolves grabbed momentum in the bottom of the second. Mercedes Green bounced a base hit through the left side of the infield, Ryanne Huffman beat out a single to third and Kelsie Gardner laid down a solid bunt for another hit to load the bags. With a 3-1 count, Alfonso went to the opposite field with a line-drive double to right field to plate two runs. Two pitches later, Zoe Clark flied out to center field just deep enough for Garnder to beat a good throw from the outfield to score from third.
 
Boytz retired nine batters at one point heading into the seventh inning before surrendering a solo homer to cut the WOU lead to 4-3. She got the next two batters to ground and line out to Destiny Kuehl at third to seal the win. The senior pitcher picked up her 10^th win of the year allowing just one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts.
 
An 11-4 hit advantage for WOU was led by Green's three singles and multiple hits from Gardner and Alfonso.
 
GAME TWO: WOU 2, Concordia 1
Two extra innings were needed after both offenses were tested in Wednesday's second game. Late heroics with two singles, a stolen base and a passed ball helped WOU walkoff with an exciting 2-1 win.
 
Sammi Cadwallader bounced back after allowing a run in the first inning to allow just six hits over 6 1/3 innings with three strikeouts.
 
The WOU offense was retired in order for the first three frames, but the bats came alive for a short burst early in the fourth to bring the game even at 1-1. Gardner bunted her way aboard for a single and moved to second after Alfonso's sacrifice bunt. Zoe Clark hit a fly ball to center that fell just in front of a diving defender for a single that plated Gardner with the equalizing run.
 
Each team had opportunities to break the tie. Concordia had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth, but failed to score.
 
Haley Fabian came into the game for Cadwallader with one out in the sixth inning. After hitting the first batter she faced, Fabian retired the next six batters she faced to set the stage for the Wolves in the bottom of the eighth.
 
With two outs, Huffman bounced a single up the middle. She advanced to third during Gardner's plate appearance by stealing second and moving to third on a passed ball. On a 3-2 pitch, Gardner hit a hard ground ball up the middle that was stopped after a diving stop by the CU shortstop. The defenders attempt to complete the play at first was late as Gardner slid safely head first in to the bag for a hit that scored Huffman with the winning tally.
 
NEXT
Western Oregon will close out the regular season Thursday with two games in Portland against Concordia. First pitch from Delta Park is set for 1 p.m.