MONMOUTH, Ore. – Trailing a pair of times in the first game Sunday, the Western Oregon University softball team kept coming back, eventually taking the lead and not looking back in winning game one, 5-3, over Western Washington. The Vikings came back in game two to claim the 10-0 win in the final two games of the four-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference series.

In the first game of the day, Kirah McGlothan delivered what would turn out to be the game-winning runs when she drilled a two-run homer in the fourth inning. Bella Valdes, batting leadoff, came through with several clutch hits as well driving in a pair of runs.

With no score through the first two innings, Western Washington got on the board with a two-run homer in the third frame.

WOU (4-4, 3-3 GNAC) answered right back in the home half. McGlothan worked a leadoff walk and then on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Allyson Drury, the ball was misplayed by the first baseman for an error and left runners on first and second. Logan Carlos followed with a perfectly placed bunt single down the third base line to load the bases with no outs. Valdes came through with her first clutch hit of the day when she laced a shot back to the pitcher that went for a base hit and RBI. Hannah Stewart followed with an RBI on a fielder's choice groundout to shortstop to tie the game at two. Sydney Brown was able to avoid any further damage in the circle for the Vikings getting a groundout and fly out.

WWU (12-4, 3-1 GNAC) went back in front with an RBI double in the fourth.

Just like the previous inning, WOU answered right back. Zoie Recolan worked a four-pitch walk to open the inning. Sydney Bowers added a single and moved up to second as the lead runner was cut down trying for third. McGlothan then delivered what would turn out to be the winning runs when she slugged a 3-1 pitch deep over the left field fence for a two-run homer and a 4-3 lead for WOU. The inning wasn't over, as Drury was hit-by-pitch and after a fielder's choice marked the second out and put Carlos on first, Valdes ripped a double to left-center to bring Carlos all the way home from first to leave WOU with a 5-3 lead after four.

After Jada Young worked the first four innings, Nicki Derrick came on and kept the Vikings without a run over the next two-plus innings. She worked out of a tough jam in the sixth with two outs recorded, a walk and single had runner at the corners, but Derrick tallied a big strikeout to end the threat.

In the seventh, WWU opened the frame with a single which brought Reilly Tidwell in to close. She would get a fielder's choice out to shortstop, a line out to right and then a pop out to first to end the game with WOU claiming the 5-3 victory.

Both teams picked up six hits in the game, as Valdes led WOU with two hits. McGlothan and Valdes each drove in a pair of runs.

In the circle, Young started and went the first four innings to get the win (2-0) allowing three earned runs and picking up two strikeouts. Derrick then went the next two innings and tallied three strikeouts and didn't allow a run. Tidwell finished the final inning for her first save of the season working a perfect seventh.

Six players had a hit for Western Washington and Tatum Dow drove in a pair of runs with a home run. In the circle, Anna Kasner started and went the first two-plus innings allowing two runs (one earned). Brown went the final four innings and ended up with the loss (1-1) after giving up three earned runs.

In game two, Kira Doan was again tough to solve in the circle as she was able to work out of a few jams to collect her second shutout of the series.

WOU did have some chances to score a few runs throughout the game. In the third, with two quick outs, Hannah Stewart worked a five-pitch walk. Kylie Lynn singled moving Stewart to third. After Lynn moved to second on a wild pitch, Doan was able to get a groundout to third to end the inning.

In the fifth, Karly Tiedeman opened the inning as a pinch-hitter a smashed a shot down the left field line for a double. After an out, Stewart laid down a perfect bunt to put runners on the corners. After moving to second with a stolen base, Doan again locked in getting back-to-back strikeouts to end the threat.

WOU put two more runners on in the sixth when Drury and Bailey Kahele both singled, but a pop out ended the inning.

The Vikings were able to score a run in the third, three in the fourth and then broke the game open in the seventh with six runs to take the 10-0 victory.

WWU held a 10-6 advantage in hits with six Wolves all collecting the hits in Stewart, Lynn, McGlothan, Drury, Kahele and Tiedeman. In the circle, Maddie Mayer started and went the first three innings allowing one run to end up with the loss (0-1). She tallied five strikeouts. Derrick, Tidwell and Young all saw action in the circle over the final four innings.

Dow had another big game for WWU going 3-5 with five RBI. In the circle, Doan went all seven innings for another complete game shutout victory (5-2) allowing the six hits and two walks, while striking out eight.

WOU will hit the road this coming week as they will play at Northwest Nazarene in the final non-conference games of the season this coming Friday and Saturday with doubleheaders starting at 2 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. on Sunday. WOU and NNU will turn right back around and play each other the following Friday and Saturday (April 2-3) in Monmouth, as those games will count as GNAC contests.