TUCSON, Ariz. – The offense certainly came to play Saturday for the Western Oregon University softball team as they tallied seven runs in the opener and came back with eight runs in game two to split the action at the Cactus Classic. The Wolves nearly came back in the opener against West Texas A&M before the Lady Buffs secured the 10-7 victory. WOU then used a pair of big scoring runs early against Southern Nazarene to take the 8-3 victory in the nightcap.

The first game not only featured 17 combined runs, but the teams also tallied 24 hits. Of the 24 hits, only five were extra base hits. The WOU (7-4) lineup had six players record a hit with Ayanna Arceneaux, Chandler Bishop and Nicole Miller all recording two hit games. Arceneaux led the way with two RBI and two runs scored.

"It was a hard battle in the first game, but we didn't lose any fight, we just came up a little short," Arceneaux said. "We were able keep the same energy and fight for the second game and really connect with the ball well for us to string runs together. People came in today and did their jobs. It was overall some great games today and well played."

The Wolves opened the scoring in the first with two outs, Arceneaux walked and Zoie Recolan reached on an error. Bishop then delivered with an RBI single down the right field line for the 1-0 lead.

West Texas A&M (7-4) came right back in the home half of the inning scoring three runs with two outs to take a 3-1 lead after one.

The Lady Buffs added another in the second, but WOU matched them with a run in the fourth. Bishop opened the frame with a double and after two outs were recorded, Miller singled to plate Bishop and leave WT with the 4-2 lead.

A three-run bottom of the fourth for the Lady Buffs extended the lead to 7-2. WOU kept fighting back with Tyler Creach doubling down the right field line to open the fifth inning. Arceneaux followed with a single and then an RBI single by Recolan brought home Creach. After Bishop reached on an error, Kylie Lynn later brought in the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly to leave WT with the 7-4 lead.

Similar to the other innings, each time WOU scored, WT had an answer. In the home half of the fifth, the Lady Buffs came back with two more runs to push back out to a 9-4 lead.

In the sixth, Arceneaux came through with a clutch triple. With Logan Carlos on via a hit-by-pitch and Allyson Drury on with a walk, Arceneaux ripped a triple down the right field line to score both runs and pull the Wolves back to within three at 9-6.

WT scored for the final time in the home half of the sixth to go back in front 10-6. The Wolves looked to rally one last time in the seventh. Sydney Bowers walked and after an out, Miller walked. A fielder's choice out marked the second out of the inning before Drury hit a single down the right field line to cut the deficit to three. With the potential tying run at the plate, a fly out ended the game as the Lady Buffs survived for the 10-7 victory.

Julie Guzman and Malaya Delfin led WT with three hits apiece, while Guzman drove in three runs.

In the circle, Maddie Mayer started for WOU and suffered her first loss (3-1) of the season going five innings and allowing nine earned runs. Bishop went the final inning and allowed a run. For WT, Kyra Lair went all seven innings for her sixth (6-2) win of the season, allowing seven runs (six earned).

In the second game, WOU outhit Southern Nazarene (5-5) 11-7 and rode the early five runs over the first two innings to victory.

Drury and Arceneaux put together big games at the plate with each going 3-4. Drury added three RBI and three runs scored. Arceneaux added a run scored and another triple. Creach and Kiley Lynn tallied two hits apiece.

"Through both games, we all really had good energy, wanting to keep pushing for the wins," Drury said. "The first game we ended up a little short, but I think that just fired us up even more going into the second game."

In the circle, sophomore right-hander Reilly Tidwell picked up her second win of the season (2-2) in as many starts as she went 4.1 innings and allowed three earned runs. She also added three strikeouts. Mayer then was strong in relief picking up her first save of the season going the final 2.2 innings, allowing just a walk with three strikeouts.

"I have just been trying to adjust by focusing in on one pitch at a time and have a more relaxed approach," Tidwell said. "We are facing good hitting teams out here, but I have been trusting our defense and they have been making the plays we need to keep the other teams scores low."

The Wolves got the offense going right away in the first inning as Drury opened the frame with a double. Creach then reached on a throwing error by the pitcher that allowed both runs to score and push WOU out to the 2-0 lead.

Southern Nazarene answered back with two in the second to even the score. WOU then put the game away in the home half of the second. Lynn opened the inning with a double. Baylie Kahele then reached on a fielder's choice and in the process, Lynn moved to third. After a sacrifice bunt moved Kahele to second, Drury ripped a double to left to plate both and push WOU back ahead at 4-2. Following a single by Creach, a double-steal followed with Drury stealing home and Creach second to move WOU to the 5-2 lead after two.

The Storm picked up a run in the fourth, just to watch the Wolves answer right back in the home half. Creach and Arceneaux each singled and after a fielder's choice, Bishop doubled to left to plate Creach for the 6-3 lead.

Drury helped cap her big game in the sixth when she opened the inning by launching a solo homer to left. WOU would add one more in the inning when Arceneaux tripled and then scored on a groundout to the pitcher by Zoie Recolan to provide the final score of 8-3.

Peyton Robinson, Hailie Fellers and Raegan Roten all led Southern Nazarene with two hits. Roten recorded three RBI. In the circle, Caitlin Lewis started and took the loss (1-1) after allowing five runs (four earned) in just 1.1 innings of work.

WOU, now 3-1 at the Cactus Classic, will finish the tournament tomorrow (Sunday) when they face Dixie State starting at 10 a.m. Pacific.