MONMOUTH, Ore. – It was a grand way to return to the field in the first game in a year for the Western Oregon University softball team on Saturday. Trailing late in the game, the Wolves fought back to tie and force extra innings before Zoie Recolan walked the team off with a game-winning hit in the eighth for the 2-1 win over Central Washington. The Wildcats then used a big inning in the second game to gain the split with a 11-0 win in six innings.
The first game had about all you would want in waiting for a year in a return to play for the Wolves. Chandler Bishop continued to make big pitches to keep CWU (4-4) off the scoreboard. The Wildcats broke through first with a run in the third.
Bishop worked around several big jams as she was able to get a groundout in the third to leave the bases loaded and then in the fourth, another groundout again left the bases loaded.
While keeping the Wildcats to just a 1-0 lead, WOU (1-1) was able to break through in the sixth. With one out, Aleya Turner singled and then moved to second on a wild pitch. Logan Carlos walked and with two outs, Recolan delivered a big hit to tie the game with her single up the middle to plate Turner.
Nicki Derrick then came on in relief of Bishop in the seventh as the true freshman tossed two scoreless innings to setup the winning hit in the home half of the eighth.
Turner started the inning with a terrific at-bat, falling behind 0-2, she eventually worked the count full and drew the walk to open the frame. Carlos added a perfectly placed bunt down the third base line that went for a single to put runners at first and second. A fielder's choice out at third marked the first out of the inning, but the Wolves wouldn't need anymore chances as Recolan ripped the 1-0 pitch to right-center for the double to score Carlos with the winning run.
CWU held an 8-7 edge on hits, with Recolan leading the way with two hits with both driving in runs. Turner, Carlos, Sydney Bowers, Allyson Drury and Hannah Stewart all added hits. Bishop went the first six innings allowing just one earned run. Derrick then worked the final two innings to claim the win (1-0) allowing just one single.
Eight players had a hit for the Wildcats and Allie Thiessen drove in the only run. In the circle, Samantha Stanfield took the loss (0-1) allowing two earned runs as she tossed a complete game.
In game two, CWU was able to use a 10-run sixth inning to claim the win.
It was a pitchers' duel through the first five innings. Reilly Tidwell and Rhaney Harris went toe-to-toe in the circle as the game would remain scoreless into the fifth. Tidwell worked out of an early jam in the first stranding runners at first and second.
WOU threatened in the second when Recolan opened the inning with a double and later moved to third, but a fielder's choice out and pop out ended the inning.
Tidwell left the bases loaded in the third getting a big pop out to keep the game scoreless.
In the fifth, CWU loaded the bases with no out, but Tidwell limited the damage allowing just one run.
The Wolves nearly answered back in the home half of the inning with runners at second and third, but a flyout and strikeout ended the inning.
In the sixth, CWU caught fire at the plate tallying 10 runs on eight hits to take an 11-0 lead. WOU had a single by Recolan in the home half of the inning before CWU closed out the 11-0 win.
CWU held a 12-4 advantage in hits with Recolan again leading the way for the Wolves with two hits, while Drury and Stewart added hits. Tidwell went the first five innings in the circle and ended up with the loss (0-1) allowing four runs (three earned), along with four strikeouts. Maddie Mayer and Derrick also pitched over the final inning.
Theresa Moyle paced the Wildcats with three hits and two RBI. Harlee Carpenter and Sydney Brown added two hits apiece. Rhaney Harris started and went all six innings for the complete game win (2-1) allowing four hits and a walk.
WOU and CWU will conclude their four-game weekend series on Sunday with another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
