MONMOUTH, Ore. – Both games went right down to the wire and each time, the Western Oregon University softball team came through with a game-changing play to decide the outcome. In game one after Central Washington came back, Logan Carlos delivered a walk-off RBI double for the 5-4 win. In game two, Jada Young, Nicki Derrick and Maddie Mayer kept the Wildcats to just a run and Sydney Bowers hit what would turn out to be the game-winning two-run homer as the Wolves took the 2-1 win to take both ends of the doubleheader Sunday.
With the two wins Sunday, head coach Lonny Sargent reached 250 career NCAA wins in the process.
In the opener, Chandler Bishop kept CWU (4-6) without a run over the first five innings to allow WOU (3-1) to build a 4-0 lead. In the second, the Wolves broke through as Allyson Drury reached on a strikeout, wild pitch. After stealing second, she would move up to third on a flyout and as the ball got away and later turned into a throwing error by the pitcher, would score on the play for the first run. Hannah Stewart followed with a single to left and advanced to second on an error. Aleya Turner quickly brought in Stewart with a double to left-center for the 2-0 lead.
Bowers got the fourth started strong with a ringing triple into the right field corner. Bishop would bring her home with a single through the left side to push the lead to 3-0.
What looked to be a quick inning in the fifth as the first two outs were recorded, WOU then got the bats going with Zoie Recolan singling and then a ripped double to left-center by Kirah McGlothan plated the fourth run of the game.
CWU then rallied in the sixth scoring four runs to even the game at four-all. Derrick came on in relief and worked a 1-2-3 top of the seventh to setup the second straight day with a walk-off. Turner immediately was on base to open the home half of the inning when she singled on the first pitch through the left side. Carlos then battled to a 2-2 count before lacing a double to left. Turner would advance to third on the play, but as the throw from left field got away for an error, Turner came home with the winning run and a 5-4 victory for the Wolves.
WOU held a 10-8 advantage in hits with Turner leading the way with a 3-4 game. In the circle, Bishop worked the first six innings to end up with the no decision allowing four earned runs. Derrick picked up her second win (2-0) in as many days going the final inning while not allowing a baserunner.
Allie Thiessen and Theresa Moyle led the Wildcats with two hits apiece. In the circle, Lexie Strasser went all six innings for the complete game taking the loss (1-1) allowing five runs (three earned).
Game two was a solid pitching matchup throughout with Young, Derrick and Mayer combining for the win. Isabel Womack would go all six innings for the complete game for the Wildcats.
With offense hard to come by, WOU was able to deliver what would be the game-winning runs in the fourth inning. Mariah Hyre started the frame with a sharp single to shortstop. Sophie Franklin would come in to pinch-run and on a back-pick attempt at first, the throw from the catcher got away as the error allowed her to move to second. After a sacrifice bunt moved Franklin to third, Bowers crushed a two-run shot over the left-center field fence for the 2-0 lead.
Following Young in the circle working four strong innings which included a couple of 1-2-3 innings, Derrick took over in the fifth. She was able to work around runners at first and second with one out in the fifth getting a fielder's choice out and foul out to end the threat. Derrick tossed another strong inning in the sixth allowing just a hit setting up the seventh. Derrick faced the first three batters, getting two outs and giving up a single before Mayer came on for the save. CWU tallied back-to-back singles with the second one bringing in a run to trim the lead to 2-1. With runners at the corners, Mayer came through big, working the count to 2-2 before she was able to catch the batter looking for the strikeout and the 2-1 win.
CWU held a 6-5 edge in hits as five players tallied a hit for WOU in Turner, Hyre, Recolan, McGlothan and Bowers. In the circle, Young ended up getting the win (1-0) working the first four innings and allowed just five baserunners while striking out four. Derrick worked the next 2.2 innings allowing one earned run along with two strikeouts. Mayer claimed her first save of the season giving up two hits before the strikeouts to end the game.
Thiessen paced CWU with three hits. In the circle, Womack went all six innings allowing just the two earned runs to end up with the loss (1-2).
WOU will remain at home this coming week when they will welcome in Western Washington for the start of GNAC play next Saturday and Sunday (March 20-21) with doubleheaders each day.
