ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The final day of the regular season for 2022 nearly sent the Western Oregon University softball team into the postseason. At the end of Sunday, the Wolves saw Logan Carlos hit for the cycle and finish the series with Central Washington going 3-1. WOU ends up finishing just one win short from qualifying for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Championships as Central Washington claimed the first game on Sunday holding off a late rally by the Wolves, 8-5, before WOU closed the series and the season with a dominating 15-4 win in five innings.
WOU entered the day needing to win both games on Sunday after sweeping the doubleheader on Saturday. As it turned out, it all came down to game three of the series.
WOU (24-26, 9-15 GNAC) opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single by Natalie Willoughby in the top of the first to score Maddie Doig who singled earlier in the inning.
CWU (19-25, 10-14 GNAC) responded in the home half of the first inning scoring seven runs on six hits to take the 7-1 lead.
The Wolves didn't go away. In the fifth, WOU got closer with a pair of runs. Sophie Franklin began the frame with a single. With one out, Carlos singled to put runners at first and second. Doig drove in a run with an RBI single to left to score Franklin. Zoie Recolan closed the inning with an RBI single to center to leave CWU with the 7-3 lead.
The Wildcats got a run back in the home half of the fifth to extend to an 8-3 lead.
WOU made one last push in the seventh. Bella Valdes ripped the first pitch of the inning down the left field line for a leadoff double. Carlos followed with a walk. After two straight outs were recorded, an error at short extended the game allowing Willoughby to reach and Valdes to score. Karly Tiedeman entered as a pinch-hitter and promptly singled up the middle to score Recolan to cut the deficit to three. That brought the potential tying run to the plate in Kirah McGlothan and she nearly tied the game hitting a deep drive to center that was just caught on the run near the fence to allow CWU to hang on for the 8-5 victory.
That win clinched the fourth and final spot in the conference tournament for the Wildcats.
CWU held the 13-12 edge in hits and the teams combined for four errors, two committed by each team.
Doig, Willoughby and Franklin all had two hits to lead the Wolves. Doig, Willoughby, Recolan and Tiedeman all drove in a run. In the circle, Maddie Mayer took the loss (9-10) allowing seven runs. Nicki Derrick was strong in relief going the next 4.2 innings and giving up just one unearned run. Chelsea Smith picked up a double play to close out the sixth.
Five players had two hits each to lead Central Washington. Makenna King and Taylor Kai each drove in a pair of runs. In the circle, Rhaney Harris started and went all seven innings for the complete game win (11-11) allowing five runs (three earned).
WOU then closed the series and the season in style rolling to the 15-4 win in five innings in game two.
Carlos started out 4-4 to complete the cycle as she led off the game with a single. She doubled in the second, hit a two-run homer in the third and then tripled in the fourth for the cycle.
The Wolves opened the scoring with three runs in the first. Carlos singled and moved to second when Kate Ronning drew a five-pitch walk. A fielder's choice out put runners at the corners for Willoughby who walked on a full-count to load the bases. After the second out was recorded, McGlothan walked for the bases-loaded RBI. Franklin closed the inning with a two-run double through the left side for the 3-0 lead.
Carlos got the second inning going with a one-out double down the left field line. After Ronning walked, a fielder's choice play marked the second out. Willoughby again walked to load the bases. Tiedeman came through with an RBI single up the middle to score Ronning for the 4-0 lead.
CWU answered with a run in the home half of the second, as Erica Soliz was able to limit the damage leaving WOU with the 4-1 lead.
WOU blew the game open in the third. Franklin started the inning with a single. Following an out, a fielding error on a ball put in play by Valdes ended up scoring Franklin from first. Carlos then smashed the first pitch to center for the two-run homer and a 7-1 lead. Ronning kept the offense going with a single to center. Recolan walked and Willoughby singled through the left side to bring in Ronning. After McGlothan walked to load the bases, Recolan would score on a wild pitch to leave WOU with the 9-1 lead.
CWU tallied a run in the home half of the third, just to watch WOU add five more in the fourth.
Valdes walked and quickly scored when Carlos tripled to left-center to complete the cycle. Ronning was hit-by-pitch and Carlos scored on a sacrifice fly by Recolan for the 11-2 lead. After an error put a pair of runners on, Tiedeman brought everyone home with a three-run homer to left for the 14-2 lead.
In the home half of the fourth, CWU collected a pair of runs before Reilly Tidwell was able to get a strikeout to end the inning with WOU ahead at 14-4.
The Wolves closed the scoring in the fifth. Recolan doubled and later scored on a single to right-center by Tiedeman for the 15-4 lead.
Tidwell then closed out the game early in the home half of the fifth working around two baserunners to get a strikeout to end the game with WOU claiming the 15-4 victory in five innings.
WOU held the 13-9 edge in hits and CWU committed all four errors in the game. Carlos had four hits to lead the way, along with three runs and three RBI. Tiedeman added three hits and five RBI, while Franklin collected two hits and a pair of RBI. In the circle, Soliz picked up her first win (1-3) of the season going the first 3.1 innings and allowing just three earned runs. Tidwell went the final 1.2 innings and allowed one earned run with three strikeouts.
Harlee Carpenter led CWU with two hits and four players drove in a run. In the circle, Isabel Womack started and went the first 2.1 innings to take the loss (7-9) allowing seven runs (six earned). Makayla Miller worked the final 2.2 innings and allowed eight runs (seven earned).
WOU finishes the 2022 season with a 24-26 overall record and 9-15 mark in the GNAC.
Lonny Sargent closes out his WOU career with 254 wins which is the most in program history and is the most wins overall while coaching in the GNAC.
