TUCSON, Ariz. – The Western Oregon University softball team couldn't have asked for a better start to the Cactus Classic. Going against the NCAA Division II national runner-up team from last year in the #2 Texas A&M-Kingsville Javelinas, the Wolves came out swinging taking the 11-3 run-rule victory in six innings to open the day Friday. WOU then came back with a three-run sixth inning to defeat Cal Pennsylvania 4-2 to compete the day one sweep.
WOU (6-3) collected 11 hits in the opening win over the Javelinas, tallying two runs in the second, three in the third and then a big six-run sixth sealed the deal. Seven players had a hit in the lineup with Tyler Creach, Ayanna Arceaneaux, Sydney Bowers and Nicole Miller all posting two hits. Chandler Bishop had just one hit, but it was a big one as her grand slam in the sixth inning forced the run-rule win. She finished the first game with five RBI. Miller added three RBI and Creach with two.
Maddie Mayer limited Texas A&M-Kingsville to just the three earned runs in going all six innings for the complete game win, her third (3-0) of the season. She also added four strikeouts and walked just one batter.
"I felt good, I felt like we kind of came in relaxed because they had the pressure on them. My approach was to go after their weaknesses and I feel like we all just went after it and wanted to get the win. I think it will give us a confidence booster going into tomorrow," Mayer said.
With the game scoreless entering the bottom of the second, WOU got the offense rolling with the first three batters of the frame reaching. Bishop walked and after Bowers singled, Miller ripped a double to score both for a 2-0 lead after two.
Texas A&M-Kingsville (9-3) answered with a run in the third just to watch WOU put three more on the board in the home half of the inning. Creach opened with a single and after a walk to Arceneaux, Zoie Recolan singled to load the bases. Bishop brought home a run when she was hit-by-pitch for the 3-1 lead. Bowers added an RBI with a sacrifice fly and then a single by Miller capped the inning driving home Recolan for the 5-1 lead after three.
The score remained 5-1 into the sixth when the Javelinas pulled to within two after plating a pair of runs that left WOU with the 5-3 lead. The Wolves sealed the deal in the home half brining in six runs for the run-rule victory.
Kylie Lynn opened the frame with a triple and then a pair of walks to Logan Carlos and Kennedy Coy loaded the bases. Creach singled in a pair of runs and following a walk to Arceneaux and a strikeout, Bishop ended the game with her grand slam for the 11-3 win in six innings.
"I feel like our team came out ready to be on top and ready to win. We knew we had to be on our game in order to get the win, so I felt very good overall. With the bases loaded and less than two outs, I was trying to get it into the outfield to at least score a run. She gave me a good pitch and I was able to put a good swing on the pitch for the grand slam. I think it was good coming out the first day getting two wins and being able to come back tomorrow with some confidence," Bishop said.
Jory Cervantes led the Javelinas with a pair of hits. In the circle, Breanna Smith took the loss (4-2) after going 2.1 innings and allowing eight earned runs. Victoria Carrion went the final three innings and allowed three earned runs.
During the second game, the pitching matchup of Reilly Tidwell and Kelsey Barron limited both teams most of the afternoon. Tidwell snagged the win (1-2) after going five innings and allowing just two earned runs. Bishop came on in relief to go the final two innings for her first save of the season allowing just two baserunners.
Playing as the visiting team in the second game, WOU jumped out to the early lead in the first frame. Coy opened with a walk and then Creach reached safely on an error by the second baseman. Following a fielder's choice out put runners at the corners, Recolan brought home the first run with an RBI single.
"We came out really strong and finished. I didn't have too good of an approach during the first game, so I switched that up for the second game to put the bat on the ball and make something happen. I think today was a good confidence boost for us," Recolan said.
Cal-Pennsylvania (0-2) came back to even the score in the third and later took the lead with a run in the fifth for the 2-1 lead entering the sixth.
WOU got the bats going when they needed them with Recolan opening the inning with a single. After an out, Bowers and Lynn hit back-to-back singles to load the bases. Baylie Kahele delivered the big hit when her single in the gap scored all three runners to push WOU to the 4-2 lead.
Bishop then came on in relief and closed the door from there, working around a jam in the sixth with two runners on and two outs, she was able to get a big strikeout to end the inning. Bishop then cruised in the seventh working a 1-2-3 inning.
WOU held a 7-4 edge in hits with Recolan going 3-4 and Lynn going 2-3. Kahele had the big hit in the sixth and drove in three of the four runs for WOU.
Barron took the loss (0-1) for the Vulcans in the circle going 5.1 innings and allowed four earned runs. Hannah Clunk went the final 1.2 innings and didn't allow a run.
WOU will continue the Cactus Classic tomorrow (Saturday) facing West Texas A&M at 10 a.m. and Southern Nazarene at 12:30 p.m.
