LACEY, Wash. -- Given that the Western Oregon University softball team was looking at playing eight games in five days, the Wolves made a push and nearly qualified for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships. WOU was able to play it out to the final game after winning the opener over Saint Martin's in eight innings, 4-2. The Saints then came back with a 10-0 win in five innings in the series finale to clinch the fourth and final spot in the GNAC Championships on Sunday.
The Wolves went 4-4 over those eight games against Central Washington and Saint Martin's.
In the opener, WOU tallied two runs in the third and after Saint Martin's tied it up in the fourth, it would remain that way into the eighth when the Wolves plated two more runs to grab the victory.
In the third, Aleya Turner opened the inning with a single and Logan Carlos worked a walk. After an out, Chandler Bishop singled up the middle for an RBI bringing in Turner. Following the second out, Sydney Bowers singled to center to score Carlos and push the lead to 2-0.
WOU kept the 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth when SMU came back to tie with a pair of runs on a two-run single up the middle by Britney Patrick.
With the teams still tied at two, the game moved into extra innings. In the eighth, Bishop opened the frame with a single to third base. Sophie Franklin came in to pinch-run and would move up to second on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Baylie Kahele that turned into an error and allowed both runners to reach. Bowers also laid down a sacrifice bunt and moved both runners up to second and third for the first out of the inning. Zoie Recolan brought home the go-ahead run with a fielder's choice hit to second. The Saints tried to come home to get the run, but Franklin beat the throw. Isabelle Lewis added the fourth run of the game with an RBI groundout to shortstop to push WOU to a 4-2 lead.
Maddie Mayer worked around a leadoff walk in the home half of the inning to preserve the 4-2 victory.
Saint Martin's held a 10-6 edge in hits with Bishop and Bowers leading the way with two hits apiece. Bishop and Bowers each drove in a run. In the circle, Reilly Tidwell started and went the first 3.1 innings to get the no-decision allowing two earned runs. Mayer went the final 4.2 innings and allowed no runs on six hits, a walk and three strikeouts for her fourth win (4-5) of the season.
Patrick and Kylie Lopez led the Saints with two hits apiece. Patrick drove in two runs. In the circle, Abby Runyon went all eight innings ending up with the loss (11-7) allowing four runs (three earned) with nine strikeouts and threw a total of 148 pitches.
That meant the teams played the regular season finale with everything on the line. The winner would advance to the GNAC Championships securing the fourth and final spot.
Saint Martin's came out ready putting up four runs in the first inning for the early 4-0 advantage. The Saints added two more in the second and another in the third to jump out to a 7-0 lead.
WOU threatened in the third with Kiley Lynn drawing a walk and Turner singling, but a fly out ended the inning. In the fourth, the Wolves picked up a single from Bishop and a double by Lewis to put runners at second and third. A line out ended up turning into a double play to end the inning. In the fifth, WOU again had two runners on with Allyson Drury drawing a walk and with two outs, Turner picking up a single before a strikeout ended the inning.
The Saints ended the game early in the home half of the fifth inning. With two runners on, Kylee Vanderbout hit a three-run walkoff homer to give SMU the 10-0 win in five innings. Saint Martin's improved to 19-16 overall and 10-10 in GNAC play, just one game ahead of the Wolves to claim the fourth and final spot.
SMU held a 9-4 edge in hits with Turner picking up two hits to lead the Wolves. In the circle, Erica Soliz started and went the first 1.1 innings to end up with the loss (2-1) allowing six runs (three earned). Nicki Derrick went the final three innings and allowed four runs (three earned).
Emery Norwood, Patrick and Vanderbout led the Saints with two hits apiece. Vanderbout drove in four runs. In the circle, Tia Ridings went all five innings to pick up the win (4-0) allowing just four hits and two walks.
WOU finishes the season 13-15 overall and 9-11 in the GNAC. It was the final game as Wolves for the five seniors: Chandler Bishop, Allyson Drury, Kiley Lynn, Sydney Bowers and Aleya Turner. Head Coach Lonny Sargent became the program's all-time winningest coach this season and holds the record which is currently at 229 victories at WOU.
