MONMOUTH, Ore.—Nearly coming up with a pair of dramatic comeback wins, Western Oregon University settled for a split with a 6-5 win and a 12-8 loss to Montana State University Billings in GNAC softball action on Sunday.
Western Oregon's (24-22, 12-12 GNAC) Chandler Bishop came through with a walk-off single in the opener while MSU Billings (21-20, 11-9 GNAC) jumped out to a 9-1 lead before holding on in the series finale.
Western Oregon will remain in Monmouth next week when the team hosts Simon Fraser on April 28 and Western Washington on April 29. The Wolves will host Senior Day against the Vikings on Sunday as the team will honor its two seniors, Zoe Clark and Lizzet Dominguez, prior to the games.
Game 1: Western Oregon def. MSU Billings, 6-5
Trailing by two runs and down to its last three outs, Western Oregon stunned Montana State Billings with a 6-5 walk-off win in Sunday's opener.
Ayanna Arceneaux initiated the rally with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the 7th. Tyler Creach followed with a walk and a sacrifice bunt off the bat of Ryanne Huffman placed the tying run in scoring position. From there, Cheyanne Rimer stabbed a single to left and advanced to second on the throw to chase MSUB reliever Haley Couch.
Facing an 0-2 count, Jenna Kelly reached safely on a fielder's choice while Creach scored to knot the game at 5-5. A harmless fly put the second out on the board where Chandler Bishop then leveled a single to center field for the walk-off delivery.
After the sides were retired in order in both the top and bottom of the 1st, Cameron Cassinelli lifted the first pitch of the second inning over the right-field fence for a 1-0 MSUB lead. WOU scored three runs in the 5th inning for a 3-2 lead only to see MSUB rally with a 3-run 6th. In all, three were three lead changes over the final three stanzas.
Haley Fabian picked up the win in two innings of work. Fabian allowed one hit and struck out five. In addition to the winning hit, Bishop tossed five innings from the circle with three strikeouts and zero walks.
The Wolves outhit the Yellowjackets 11-to-6 with Creach, Rimer and Sydney Bowers all coming through with two hits.
Game 2: Montana State Billings def. Western Oregon, 12-8
The Yellowjackets placed nine runs on the board in the first two innings, including a seven-run 2nd to defeat Western Oregon, 12-8, in the series finale.
The Yellowjackets sent 11 batters to the plate in the 2nd with pitcher Megan Dettling helping her own cause with a grand slam in the frame.
WOU battled back in the middle innings with a Sydney Bowers solo homer in the home half of the 2nd and four more runs in the 3rd on a Ryanne Huffman 3-run blast to right field.
Both teams plated three runs late in the game for the final score. The Wolves threatened to pull closer but left several opportunities on the field as the team stranded two runners in each of the final four innings for a total of 10 runners left on base.
Huffman ended the game going 5-for-5 at the plate with four RBI and two runs scored.
