LACEY, Wash. – Erica Soliz came on in relief in game two and was able to hold Saint Martin's to just a run over 6.2 innings of work to allow a late clutch hit by Sydney Bowers to send the Western Oregon University softball team to a 6-5 win in game two over the Saints. In the opener, SMU got a strong start from Abby Runyon to take the 2-0 victory in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action on Saturday.
With the results from Saturday, WOU still remains a game back of Saint Martin's for the final GNAC Championship spot currently at 8-10 and Saint Martin's at 9-9. Central Washington and Western Washington split their first two games in Bellingham which has CWU at 8-6 and WWU at 10-8. The Wolves will need two wins to pass SMU for the final spot and then could possibly tie CWU or WWU for a higher spot in the standings depending on results. Everything will come down to the final day on Sunday as both doubleheaders will start at 12 p.m. Northwest Nazarene won three of four at Montana State Billings to claim the regular season crown and top seed in the upcoming GNAC Championships.
In the first game of the day Saturday, WOU (12-14, 8-10 GNAC) outhit SMU (18-15, 9-9 GNAC) 8-6, but weren't able to drive a run in against Runyon.
WOU threatened in the second inning getting singles from Bowers and Kiley Lynn, but a fielder's choice groundout ended the inning. In the third inning, Aleya Turner singled and Logan Carlos singled, as both runners moved up on an error. A groundout and pair of strikeouts left the runners stranded.
Finally, in the sixth inning, SMU was able to break the scoreless tie getting a two-out RBI double and RBI single for a 2-0 lead.
The Wolves got a runner on in the seventh with Lynn singling, but three straight outs ended the game with SMU taking the 2-0 victory.
Turner, Carlos, Bowers and Lynn all had two hits apiece to lead the Wolves. In the circle, Maddie Mayer went all six innings and was solid allowing just the two earned runs to end up with the loss (3-5). She added five strikeouts and no walks.
Six different players had a hit for SMU with Britney Patrick and Julia Lucas adding RBI hits. In the circle, Runyon went all seven innings for the win (11-5) allowing the eight hits and had six strikeouts.
In game two, WOU started the scoring right away in the first. Turner singled up the middle and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Zoie Recolan singled and moved to second on an error by the centerfielder. Mariah Hyre walked to load the bases for Isabelle Lewis who hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Turner for the 1-0 lead.
SMU came right back in the home half scoring four runs. Soliz came on in relief to get out of the bases loaded jam with a fly out and pop out to keep it a 4-1 lead for the Saints.
In the fourth, WOU began to chip away. Bowers singled to open the frame and Allyson Drury walked. Lynn was hit-by-pitch to load the bases. Kirah McGlothan walked with the bases loaded for an RBI leaving WOU within two at 4-2.
SMU came back with a run in the home half to push the lead back to three at 5-2.
In the fifth with two outs recorded, Bowers and Drury worked back-to-back walks to set the table for Lynn who singled to left for the RBI and trim the deficit to two at 5-3.
WOU then went in front for good in the sixth. SMU brought Runyon in to try and close out the final six outs, but the Wolves were able to break through in game two against the right-hander. Turner singled to open the inning and Carlos added a single through the right side. Bella Valdes walked to load the bases. Hyre worked a full-count before also walking for an RBI to cut the deficit to one. Lewis would hit a fly ball to right that was caught and, on the play, Carlos tried to score from third but was thrown out. That meant WOU had two outs and runners on first and second for Bowers. She would deliver the clutch hit ripping a 3-1 pitch into the left-center gap to score both runners and leave WOU with a 6-5 lead.
The Saints didn't go away quietly. With two quick outs in the sixth, SMU tallied a single and a walk before an error loaded the bases. Soliz was able to get a pop up to second to keep the Wolves in front.
In the seventh, WOU nearly added on, but a fielder's choice out at home and a groundout kept the lead at one. In the home half, a groundout opened the inning. A single followed and then a fielder's choice out marked the second out. A double down the left field line put runners at second and third. With a chance to tie or win the game, Soliz was able to get a lineout to second to leave WOU with the 6-5 victory.
SMU held a 9-8 edge in hits with Turner and Bowers leading the way with two hits apiece for the Wolves. Bowers drove in two runs which ended up being the tying and winning runs. In the circle, Chandler Bishop started and went the first third of an inning before Soliz came on in relief going the final 6.2 innings to get the win (2-0) allowing just the one earned run on five hits.
Karley Yoshioka and Megan Convery led the Saints with two hits apiece. Julia Lucas drove in a pair of runs. In the circle, Savannah Owen started and went the first three innings allowing two earned runs. Tia Ridings went the next two innings and allowed one earned run. Runyon then went the final two innings allowing three earned runs to get the loss (11-6).
WOU and SMU will now get set for a crucial doubleheader to close the regular season tomorrow (Sunday) as one of the teams will secure the final spot in the GNAC Championships with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
