IRVINE, Calif. – Some timely hits and solid pitching sent the Western Oregon University softball team to an 8-2 win over Cal State Dominguez Hills to open the Concordia Irvine Tournament on Friday. In the nightcap, Cal State East Bay rallied and then held on for the 5-4 victory.
Natalie Willoughby continued her hot start to the season connecting on her third home run of the season against Cal State Dominguez Hills. Willoughby posted two hits in the game and drove in two, along with two intentional walks. Zoie Recolan collected two hits in her first game of the new season and added an RBI. Kirah McGlothan and Kate Ronning joined Willoughby with two RBI against the Toros. In the circle, Chelsea Smith improved to 2-0 on the season going the first four innings and allowing two earned runs along with four strikeouts. Maddie Mayer pitched a strong three innings in relief to get the save allowing just a hit and a walk and adding a pair of strikeouts.
Overall, WOU (3-1) held an 8-6 edge in hits and used a pair of big innings in the fourth and fifth to put the game out of reach.
WOU opened the scoring in the second inning when Willoughby led off the frame with a solo homer to left-center. The Wolves tallied three more in the fourth. With one out, Recolan doubled to left-center. Willoughby was walked intentionally and a single by Logan Carlos loaded the bases. Ronning came through with a single up the middle to bring in two for the 3-0 lead. After a fielding error reloaded the bases, Erica Soliz walked to bring in the third run of the inning and move WOU to a 4-0 lead.
Cal State Dominguez (1-1) got on the board with two runs in the top of the fifth, but those runs were quickly answered by the Wolves in the home half.
Baylie Kahele walked to open the inning and Recolan followed with a walk. Willoughby singled up the middle to bring in Kahele. On the play, Recolan made it to third and Willoughby moved to second on the throw. Following an out, McGlothan singled up the middle to plate two more runs and push the WOU lead to 7-2 after five.
WOU closed the scoring in the sixth. Soliz began the frame with a double. Nicki Derrick came in to pinch-run and would score on a single to left-center by Recolan to provide the final margin of 8-2.
Abellera led the Toros with two hits and Lopez had the only RBI. In the circle, Wies started and went the first four innings allowing four runs (three earned) to take the loss (0-1). Ramirez allowed two runs in relief before Labonog worked the final two innings and allowed two earned runs.
In game two, the Wolves got the start they wanted jumping out 3-0 in the second inning. Willoughby opened the frame reaching on an error. Logan Carlos singled and moved to second on the error while Willoughby advanced to third. McGlothan delivered ripping a double to left-center to score both runs. McGlothan later stole third and then scored on a sacrifice fly to right by Ronning for the 3-0 lead.
Cal State Easy Bay (2-0) picked up two runs in the third, but WOU answered right back in the fourth. McGlothan walked and after an out, moved to second on a walk by McKenzie Westphal. Sophie Franklin brought the run home when she doubled to left-center to move the Wolves out to a 4-2 advantage.
The Pioneers fought back to tie the game in the fifth and then took the lead in the sixth scoring what would be the game-winning run on a wild pitch. WOU wasn't able to mount a comeback in the seventh going down in order as Cal State East Bay claimed the 5-4 victory.
Cal State East Bay held a 6-4 edge on hits and both teams committed an error. Carlos, McGlothan, Westphal and Franklin all had hit, while McGlothan drove in two runs and one RBI for Franklin.
In the circle, Jada Young started for the Wolves and ended up with the no-decision going five innings and allowing four earned runs, along with a pair of strikeouts. Soliz came on in relief and pitched the next third of an inning and ended up with the loss (0-1) allowing one earned run. Mayer tossed the final two-thirds of the inning not allowing a baserunner.
Six players tallied a hit for the Pioneers, while Sydney Littles and Madeline Ramirez each drove in two runs. In the circle, Savannah Barchus started and went 3.1 innings allowing four runs (one earned). Anamaria Beard (1-0) collected the win going the final 3.2 innings and didn't allow a run.
WOU continues the Concordia Irvine Tournament on Saturday starting the day against Stanislaus State at 11:45 a.m. The Wolves close the day against Cal State San Marcos at 7 p.m.
