ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Two down, two to go. It will all come down to the final day for the Western Oregon University softball team after sweeping a doubleheader from Central Washington on Saturday in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play. WOU took the lead midway through game one and held off a rally by the Wildcats for the 5-4 win. In the nightcap, WOU used a pair of big innings in the second and fourth to take the 10-2 victory in six innings. With the wins, WOU remains alive for the fourth and final GNAC Championships spot. Central Washington holds the final spot with nine wins, while WOU now has eight wins. Simon Fraser finished their series at Northwest Nazarene going 1-3 and end the season with nine conference wins. If the Wolves can sweep the Wildcats again on Sunday, they will claim the fourth and final tournament spot.
The two victories also moves Lonny Sargent to the all-time wins mark for most overall wins coaching in the GNAC at 253.
Central Washington (18-24, 9-13 GNAC) came out strong at home to start the first game plating three runs in the opening frame for the 3-0 lead.
WOU (23-25, 8-14 GNAC) responded in the third. Sophie Franklin singled and later stole second. A sacrifice bunt moved her to third before scoring on an RBI groundout by Logan Carlos.
The Wolves took the lead in the fourth. Zoie Recolan opened the inning walking on four pitches. Natalie Willoughby ripped a full-count double to right-center to move Recolan to third. After an out, Kirah McGlothan singled up the middle on the first pitch to score Recolan. Kate Ronning tied the game with an RBI single to right, also on the first pitch, to bring in Willoughby. WOU then took the lead on an error by the Wildcats that allowed McGlothan to score the go-ahead run at 4-3.
WOU added a big insurance run in the fifth. Bella Valdes walked on five pitches and later moved to second on a groundout. With two outs, Recolan singled on a 2-0 pitch to left to bring in Valdes for the 5-3 lead.
That extra run was the difference as the Wildcats threatened in their last at-bat in the seventh. After a walk and single started the inning, a groundout moved both runners up. Another groundout followed for the second out. Two straight walks followed, with one coming with the bases loaded to trim the lead to 5-4. Maddie Mayer and Myiah Seaton then battled in a 15 pitch at-bat before finally Mayer was able to get Seaton to groundout to second to end the game with WOU taking the 5-4 victory.
Each team had eight hits while CWU committed the only error. Recolan and Ronning led the Wolves with two hits, while Recolan, Ronning, McGlothan and Carlos each drove in a run. In the circle, Mayer went all seven innings for the win (9-9) allowing the four earned runs and added two strikeouts while throwing 116 pitches.
Brooke Jordan and Karsyn Decker each had two hits to pace the Wildcats. Alyssa Benthagen drove in three runs. In the circle, Rhaney Harris went all seven innings to take the loss (10-11) allowing five runs (four earned) and added five strikeouts.
WOU then rolled to the game two win behind three runs in the second and six runs in the fourth.
Following a scoreless opening inning, WOU tallied the only runs they would need in the second. McGlothan and Ronning each walked to start the inning. Franklin then singled and on a throwing error by the second baseman, McGlothan came home to score the first run. After Franklin stole second, Valdes reached on a fielder's choice to short that scored Ronning for the 2-0 lead. Carlos closed the frame with an RBI single up the middle bringing in Franklin for the 3-0 lead.
The Wolves then broke the game open in the fourth. Ronning opened the frame walking on four pitches. Franklin reached on a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt that put runners at the corners. A wild pitch followed moving Franklin to third and scoring Ronning. Valdes added an RBI single to left to bring in Franklin and Valdes moved to second on an error from the left fielder. Carlos worked a full-count walk and both runners moved up on a groundout. Recolan walked to load the bases for Willoughby who delivered with a two-run single to left-center for the 7-0 lead. After the second out was recorded, McGlothan closed the inning with a single to center for the RBI and on the play, the center fielder misplayed the ball allowing a second run to score for the 9-0 lead.
Central Washington tallied their only two runs in the home half of the fourth, as Reilly Tidwell minimized the damage working around a bases-loaded, no out jam by getting a fielder's choice, strikeout, fly out and groundout to only allow two runs and keep WOU with the 9-2 lead.
WOU closed the scoring in the sixth. Recolan singled and then scored on a double to right-center by Willoughby for the 10-2 lead.
Tidwell worked around two baserunners in the home half of the sixth getting a pop out to end the game early with WOU taking the 10-2 win in six innings.
WOU held the 8-6 edge in hits while CWU committed all four errors in the game. Carlos and Willoughby led the way with two hits apiece, while Willoughby drove in three runs and Valdes added a pair of RBI. In the circle, Tidwell recorded her fourth (4-6) win of the season going all six innings and allowed just two earned runs with four strikeouts.
Six players had a hit to lead Central Washington, while Harlee Carpenter and Ashlee Laver each drove in a run. In the circle, Isabel Womack started and went the first 3.1 innings to take the loss (7-8) allowing nine runs (three earned) and had three strikeouts. Makayla Miller went the final 2.2 innings, allowing just one earned run.
WOU and CWU will close the regular season tomorrow (Sunday) as it will come down to the final two games of the season to see which team will secure the final postseason berth. The teams will start the doubleheader at 1 p.m. in Ellensburg.
