LAS VEGAS, Nev.—Struggling to manufacture runs until late in the second game, the Western Oregon University softball team dropped a pair of games on the second day of the MSUB Desert Stinger, held at Majestic Park on Saturday.
Western Oregon (2-2) fell to Concordia (Calif.) 12-0 in the opening game and lost to CSU San Bernardino, 11-8, following a spirited rally in the late innings. After a pair of wins on opening day, the Wolves will carry a 2-2 record into the final day of competition at the Desert Stinger on Sunday.
WOU will close out the tournament against Notre Dame de Namur at 2 p.m.
Game 1 – Concordia (Calif.) 12, Western Oregon 0 (5 inn.)
Concordia improved to 3-0 on the season with a three home run game by the offense backing up a no-hit performance by freshman starter Callie Nunes.
The Eagles, a team just outside the NCAA DII top-25 in the preseason poll, plated five runs in the third to open up the contest for Nunes.
Nunes faced three batters over the minimum after allowing two walks and striking out eight batters. A third Wolf reached base via a dropped third strike. Kennedy Coy was the lone Wolf to move past first base following a fifth-inning walk and advancement on a passed ball.
Overall, the Eagles connected on 16 hits with No. 9 batter Sarah Kretschmar going 3-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and three runs scored.
Game 2 – CSU San Bernardino 11, Western Oregon 8
Forced into a 5-0 hole entering the home half of the second inning, Western Oregon scored seven runs over the final four frames but fell shy of an epic comeback in an 11-8 loss to CSU San Bernardino in the second game of the day at Majestic Park.
The first five Coyote batters reached base via a hit to stake a 4-0 lead in the first inning of play. Both teams sent one run home in the second before CSUSB tacked on additional runs in the next two stanzas for an 8-1 advantage.
WOU managed single scores in the bottom of the fourth and fifth frames while Jenna Kelly and Ayanna Arceneaux came through with back-to-back RBI singles to cut into the deficit.
CSUSB immediately earned back the runs on a two-run single to right in the top of the seventh. The runs proved vital in the bottom of the final frame as WOU continued its attack by loading the bases on a leadoff single by Tyler Creach, a walk by Nicole Miller and a Coyote error. With two RBI hits already to her credit, Zoe Clark delivered a bases-clearing double down the left-field line to make it a three run contest.
Reentering the game in the seventh, CSUSB starter Amanda Ramirez shut down the rally with a groundout and a strikeout.
CSUSB outhit the Wolves 11-to-8 with nine different players recording a hit. Clark ended the game with a 3-for-4 line that included five RBI. Miller also posted a two-hit game for the Wolves after going 2-for-3 with a run scored.
