MONMOUTH, Ore.—Looking to gain ground in the race for postseason positioning, Western Oregon split a pair of 5-2 contests in GNAC softball action against Montana State Billings on Saturday.
Western Oregon (23-21, 11-11 GNAC) was victories in the opener before Montana State Billings (20-19, 10-8 GNAC) flipped the script with a 5-2 in the second half of the twinbill.
WOU will host the Yellowjackets for a second doubleheader on Sunday. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. at the WOU Softball Field.
Game 1: Western Oregon def. MSU Billings, 5-2
Tied 2-2 through the first five innings, Western Oregon broke the game open with a 3-run 6th inning to take the opening game against MSU Billings, 5-2.
Ayanna Arceneaux drove in the first run of the crucial 6th inning with a bunt single. With runners on the corners and two outs, Arceneaux easily beat out the throw from third while Jenna Kelly scampered home from third for a 3-2 lead.
Still batting in the 6th, a fielding error allowed the Wolves to load the bases where Ryanne Huffman danced a single to center field to plate two more runners and give the home side a healthy 5-2 advantage.
Armed with the lead, WOU starter Lizzet Dominguez pitched around back-to-back two-out singles to post her 13th complete game of the season. Dominguez struck out two and walked two while improving to 12-4 on the season from the circle.
Tyler Creach went 2-for-4 at the plate for WOU and scored a run in the 3rd after singling, stealing second and darting home on the same play via a throwing error by MSUB's catcher.
Game 2: MSU Billings def. Western Oregon 5-2
MSUB starter Megan Dettling not only posted a complete game as a pitcher but helped her own cause with a 2-for-4 line at the plate that included a solo homer in the 7th as the Yellowjackets evened the series with a 5-2 win in the second game of the GNAC doubleheader.
Dettling held the Wolves to two runs on six hits and struck out seven batters. She provided the Yellowjackets a lead with an RBI single to left field in the 3rd. Teammate Amanda Barham extended the buffer with a solo homer in the 5th inning.
The Wolves pulled to within a run in the bottom of the 6th with the score resting at 3-2 following a Zoe Clark sacrifice fly that allowed Cheyenne Rimer to score.
After helping MSUB with the late additions, Dettling sent the Wolves down in order in the 7th to pick up the win and improve to 7-4 on the season.
Rimer went 2-for-2 on the day and connected on a solo shot in re 3nd for WOU's initial score.
