MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University softball team delivered big hits when needed against Warner Pacific as the Wolves tallied 18 combined runs in the two games. WOU put together a large sixth inning in game one to take the 9-3 victory and then used a big fifth inning in the second game to force the five inning run-rule 9-1 victory.
Logan Carlos tallied two hits in each game to finish with four on the day. Kirah McGlothan, Kate Ronning and Natalie Willoughby added three RBI each on the day. Maddie Doig, Sophie Franklin and Bella Valdes all added two RBI. Carlos, Karly Tiedeman and Zoie Recolan all drove in a run.
With the wins, WOU improves to 7-2 already on the young season and are 4-0 at home.
In the first game, the Wolves came through with a run in the first inning. Carlos opened the frame with a double to left-center. After a Doig flyout moved the runner to third, Recolan singled up the middle for the RBI.
Warner Pacific (0-2) tallied all of their runs in a three-run third inning to take a 3-1 lead. That lead held up until the Wolves put the game away in the sixth.
Recolan opened the inning walking on four pitches. Valdes came in to pinch-run and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Willoughby singled through the left side to scored Valdes. Ronning then laid down a perfect bunt single to put runners at first and second. McGlothan wasted little time getting everyone home when she launched an 0-1 pitch deep to left for a three-run homer and a 6-3 lead. Following two outs, WOU got the bats going again with a single by Franklin. Carlos followed with a walk and then a single to shortstop by Doig loaded the bases. Valdes jumped on the first pitch and roped a single to left to plate two more runs and move the Wolves out to an 8-3 lead. Ronning capped the seven-run inning walking with the bases loaded for an RBI.
Reilly Tidwell worked the first six innings and then Nicki Derrick came on to pitch the seventh working around a leadoff single to keep the Knights off the board and preserve the 9-3 victory.
WOU held a 10-5 edge in hits with Willoughby and Carlos tallying two hits apiece. McGlothan drove in three runs and Willoughby and Valdes added two RBI each. In the circle, Tidwell improved to 1-1 on the season going the first six innings and allowing just the three earned runs, along with six strikeouts. Derrick worked a scoreless seventh.
Carrigan Foster led Warner Pacific with two hits, while Carrigan Foster and Emma Foster each drove in a run. In the circle, Abby Carlson started and went the first 5.2 innings allowing nine earned runs to take the loss (0-1). Emma Foster went the final third of an inning.
In the second game, WOU again started strong getting runs in the first inning. With Valdes on and two outs, Willoughby walked before Ronning laced a double to deep left that hit the base of the wall and brought in both runners for the 2-0 lead.
A solo home run by Emma Foster got the Knights on the board in the second.
The game would remain 2-1 until the fifth. WOU put together a string of three home runs in four at-bats to put the game out of reach. Carlos opened the frame hitting the first pitch over the center field wall for a solo homer. After Valdes walked, Doig hit a 1-1 pitch to deep left for a two-run homer. The next batter, Willoughby connected on a 2-0 pitch and hit one deep over the left field fence for a solo shot. The offense didn't stop there. After Ronning and McGlothan reached with singles, Franklin took the first pitch and smacked a triple into the right-center gap to score a pair of runs. Needing just one more run to force the run-rule, Tiedeman pinch-hit and hit a sacrifice fly to deep left to score Franklin to provide the final score of 9-1.
WOU held a 9-2 edge in hits with Ronning, Carlos and McGlothan all tallying two hits. Ronning, Doig and Franklin drove in two runs apiece. In the circle, Chelsea Smith was in control tossing all five innings, allowing just the one earned run, along with five strikeouts and no walks to get her third win (3-0) of the season.
Emma Foster and Paityn Willoughby had the hits for the Knights with Foster driving in the only run which was a solo homer. In the circle, Maggie Brauckmiller started for Warner Pacific and ended up with the loss (0-1) allowing six earned runs in four innings. Marissa Bradshaw went the final third of an inning and allowed three earned runs.
WOU will now get ready to travel to Hawaii next week where they will play six games against three teams. The Wolves will begin the trip on Friday, Feb. 18 against Hawaii Hilo. WOU will then face Hawaii Pacific the next day on Saturday, Feb. 19 before closing the trip on Monday, Feb. 21 against Chaminade.
