MONMOUTH, Ore. – Thursday, March 12 will always be remembered for a variety of reasons for the Western Oregon University softball team. Not only did the Wolves pick up the sweep, but during the first game, the announcements came down from both the NCAA and the GNAC that effective March 13 games would be suspended until further notice. Despite all this going on, WOU was able to win game one over Montana State Billings, 4-0, and then came back for a 4-2 win in the nightcap. Following the second game, there was a senior ceremony for the four seniors in Kennedy Coy, Chandler Bishop, Ayanna Arceneaux and Nicole Miller, with not knowing the plans for the rest of the season, this might be the final game of the season for the seniors.
In the first game, Bishop was on-point throughout the game, scattering six hits in her shutout victory. As it turned out, she didn't need much run support and the two-run first inning was all she would need. After working around a double and a walk, the offense went right to work in the home half of the inning.
Kennedy Coy singled and moved to second on throwing error. Tyler Creach put down a perfect bunt single to put runners at the corners. Creach then stole second and on the play, the throw by the catcher sailed into the outfield and allowed Coy to score. A sacrifice bunt by Arceneaux moved Creach to third and she would score on an RBI groundout to shortstop by Kiley Lynn to move WOU out to the 2-0 lead after one.
WOU would add two more runs in the third when Creach opened the inning with a double and quickly scored on an RBI single to center for the 3-0 lead. Later in the frame, with Miller on first, Sydney Bowers ripped a triple to plate the fourth run of the game.
The Wolves put together a strong defensive play in the fourth with runners on second and third, a fly ball went out to Creach in center and she was able to hit the cutoff person in Baylie Kahele, who then relied a perfect throw home to Miller to get the tagging runner to keep the game at 4-0.
Bishop closed the game strong in the seventh, getting a groundout, fly out and foul out to end the game with the 4-0 shutout victory.
WOU held a 10-6 edge in hits with Coy and Creach leading the way with two hits apiece. Eight players in the lineup posted at least a hit. In the circle, Bishop grabbed her fourth (4-2) win of the season, tossing all seven innings, while adding a strikeout.
Six players had a hit for the 'Jackets, while in the circle Maddy Lincoln started and went all six innings to end up with the loss (2-6) after allowing four runs (two earned).
The Wolves then used a strong rally in the fifth to come back and win the game.
With Maddie Mayer and Alyssa Etheridge matching zeros through the first four innings, the game entered the fifth 0-0.
MSU Billings struck first with a two-run homer by Hailee Gregerson for the 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the fifth. WOU answered right back, plating four runs on two hits. Bishop opened the inning with a single and then Kirah McGlothan came on to pinch-run, moving to second on a groundout. She then moved to third on a wild pitch before Miller eventually drew a walk. With runners at the corners, Allyson Drury reached on an error by the shortstop, but picked up the RBI when McGlothan scored. After both moved up on a wild pitch, a groundout to third kept the runners at second and third with two outs. Another wild pitch brought in the tying run and after Coy walked, Creach hit a clutch double to right that brought in two runs as the throw back to the infield got away allowing the fourth run of the inning to score and move WOU to a 4-2 lead after five.
Mayer shut the door after that, allowing just a single in the sixth and then worked around a leadoff double in the seventh to preserve the 4-2 victory.
After setting her new career-high in strikeouts last week, Mayer set another new mark this week striking out 12 'Jackets in her seven innings of work. The complete game win moved Mayer to 6-4 on the season, allowing just the six total baserunners.
Both teams ended up with four hits, as Creach led the team with two hits and the two RBI. Brittanee Fisher led the 'Jackets with two hits and Gregerson drove in two runs. In the circle for MSUB, Etheridge went the first five innings to end up with the loss (2-5), allowing four runs, one earned. Julia Qualteri went the final inning, allowing two baserunners.
With the announcement from both the NCAA and GNAC, WOU will sit at 13-10 overall and 3-2 in GNAC play, hopeful that games might be played still this season, but for now will remain suspended.
