MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Oregon University softball team came out strong in game two to snap Saint Martin's 11-game winning streak taking the nightcap by an 8-2 score. The Saints won the opener, 5-1, in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action Saturday at the WOU Softball Field. It was Holli Strong Day before the game as WOU head women's basketball coach Holli Howard-Carpenter was in attendance to throw out the first pitch of the game. The Wolves wore blue shirts that had "Holli Strong" printed on the back during warm-ups.
The offense came out ready in game two, piling up a pair of runs in the first two innings. As it turned out, WOU (16-15, 3-7 GNAC) utilized four two-run innings to claim the win.
In the opening frame, Logan Carlos drew a leadoff walk. After stealing second, Maddie Doig also walked. Both moved up on a sacrifice bunt by Zoie Recolan. After a hard lineout shot to first was caught by the fielder, the Wolves put together a two-out rally. Erica Soliz battled with a 1-2 count before coming through with a solid single through the left side for an RBI. Kirah McGlothan added another run with a ringing double into the left field corner to leave WOU with the 2-0 lead after one.
In the second, Kate Ronning started the inning with a full-count single to center. Bella Valdes added a perfectly placed single that went for a bunt. On the play, Ronning kept going and the throw from the first baseman sailed into the outfield allowing Ronning to score and Valdes to reach third. Carlos brought in Valdes with an RBI single through the left side for the 4-0 lead.
Saint Martin's (15-9, 5-1 GNAC) picked up their first runs of the game in the fourth coming away with two runs on two hits to cut the deficit in half.
The Wolves answered right back in the home half of the inning. Ronning walked and then moved to second on a single by Valdes. After a groundout moved both runners up, Doig walked to load the bases. Recolan added a four-pitch walk for the RBI bringing in Ronning. Following the second out, Soliz also collected an RBI on a bases-loaded walk to push the lead to 6-2 after four.
Maddie Mayer took it from there in the circle getting a 1-2-3 fifth inning and after working around a couple of baserunners in the sixth, she tallied another 1-2-3 seventh inning for the complete game win.
The offense added insurance in the sixth. Recolan singled to open the frame. Pinch-runner Nicki Derrick came in to run for Recolan and was immediately on the move when Natalie Willoughby ripped a double into the right field corner to score Derrick from first. Following a groundout moved Willoughby to third, she scored on another groundout by Maddie Brandner for the RBI and the 8-2 lead.
WOU held the 9-7 edge in hits and SMU committed the only error. Valdes tallied three hits to lead the offense and also scored a pair of runs. Six other players had a hit for the Wolves. Soliz drove in two runs and five others added an RBI. Carlos, Ronning and Doig all drew two walks in the game. In the circle, Mayer improved to 5-5 on the season with her complete game victory. Mayer tallied five strikeouts and allowed just two earned runs.
Malie Pinder and Vanessa Smoke tallied two hits each to lead the Saints. In the circle, Tia Ridings started and took the loss (3-5), allowing three runs (two earned) in an inning-plus. Kylie Parsons and Abby Runyon pitched the final five innings.
WOU took the lead first in the opening game of the day in the second inning. McGlothan walked and then a pair of bunts turned into singles to load the bases. Sophie Franklin and Ronning it placed perfect bunts that went for hits to load the bases without an out. After an out was recorded, Carlos hit a shot back to the pitcher that was knocked down, but she reached for an RBI single to give WOU the early 1-0 lead.
Saint Martin's took the lead for good in the third coming away with four runs without a hit and took advantage of a pair of WOU errors to open up a 4-1 lead.
WOU threatened in the home half of the third getting a double by Willoughy and Franklin drew a walk before a strikeout ended the threat.
The Saints added another run in the fifth and again WOU made a push over the final innings. In the sixth, Franklin reached on an error and later moved to second on a single by Carlos before a pop out ended the inning.
WOU held the 7-3 edge in hits and the team combined for four errors, two on each team. Carlos and Doig led the offense with two hits apiece. Carlos drove in the only run. In the circle, Reilly Tidwell started and took the loss (3-3) allowing five runs (two earned) in 4.1 innings. She added five strikeouts. Derrick was strong in relief once again tossing 2.2 scoreless innings, coming away with five strikeouts.
Three players had a hit to lead the Saints with Devyn Connolly driving in two runs. In the circle, Abby Runyon started and went the first three innings, allowing one earned run with five strikeouts. Chloe Leverington picked up the win (5-0) tossing four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts.
WOU and SMU will close their four-game series tomorrow (Sunday) with another doubleheader starting at 12 p.m. at the WOU Softball Field.
