MONMOUTH, Ore.—After watching a freshman connect on a walk-off single in the opener, Western Oregon senior Zoe Clark propelled a game-ending home run in the nightcap to lead Western Oregon to a Sunday sweep over Western Washington.
With the sweep, Western Oregon (27-23, 15-13 GNAC) clinched a spot in the GNAC tournament on the final day of the regular season. The Wolves will carry the No. 4 seed in to the four-team tournament and will play top-seeded Northwest Nazarene on Thursday, May. 3. Opening pitch against the Nighthawks is set for 7 p.m. with the double-elimination tournament held at Concordia's Porter Park in Portland.
Prior to the game, WOU honored its two seniors on the team in Clark, the team's center fielder, and pitcher Lizzet Dominguez.
Western Washington's season ends with a 15-32 overall record.
Game 1: Western Oregon def. Western Washington, 11-10 (10 inn.)
After seeing a late rally go to waste on a game-tying home run by WWU's Kira Doan in the top of the 7th, Western Oregon came through with a walk-off win when freshman Ayanna Arceneaux delivered a single through the right-side of the infield.
Pinch runner Kennedy Coy scored the game-winning run on Arceneaux's swing after being moved to third on sacrifice bunt by Zoe Clark that included a WWU throwing error on the play.
Despite a pair of rain delays that lasted close to two hours, the Wolves jumped out to a quick start with a 5- 0 lead through the first inning. Nicole Miller drove in two runs on a single to left and immediately scored as Jenna Kelly sent a home run over the left-field fence.
The Vikings battled back with three runs each in the 3rd and 5th innings for a 9-6 lead. Down to its last four outs, WOU drew a bases-loaded walk and struck for two singles for four runs to regain the lead at 10-9 before heading to the top of the 7th where Doan's home run tied the contest and sent the affair into extra innings.
Arceneaux led WOU at the plate with a 3-for-5 line that included three RBI and one run scored. WOU outhit the Vikings 17 to 13. Chandler Bishop earned the win while pitching the final three innings for the Wolves. Bishop allowed one run on one hit.
Game 2: Western Oregon def. Western Washington, 11-2 (6 inn.)
With sundown looming, Western Oregon clubbed 13 hits, including a pair of two-run homers by Zoe Clark to defeat Western Washington, 11-2, in the regular-season finale.
Clark made it a 5-0 lead for the Wolves in the 3rd inning with her first homer of the day and capped the day with her second roundtripper for the early 6-inning finish.
After collecting three hits in the opener, Ayanna Arceneaux returned with a 3-for-3 game in the nightcap. Sydney Bowers also went 3-for-3 at the plate with a career high four RBI.
WOU's Haley Fabian tossed a complete game in the winning performance from the circle. Fabian allowed two runs on six hits while striking out six batters.
