MONMOUTH, Ore. --- The Western Oregon softball team used a Maddie Mayer shutout in game one to beat Central Washington 4-0, but were edged in game two 3-2 Saturday at WOU Softball Field to take three of four from the Wildcats in the series.
 
In the first game, the Wolves (21-19 overall, 10-4 GNAC) got another stand-out performance from Mayer as the senior left-hander tossed a five-hit shutout with six strikeouts and three walks to pick up her 12th win of the season and lower her ERA To 2.14 on the season.
 
Mayer got all the support she would need in the third inning as Katelyn McGough ripped a two-run double to center field to score Logan Carlos and pinch runner Carly Turpen  before Sophie Franklin later in the inning hit an RBI single to score McGough and make it 3-0.
 
The Wolves picked another run on a Natalie Willoughby home run to center in the fifth – her third homer of the season.
 
Baylie Kahele was the lone WOU player with multiple hits, going 2-for-3.
 
In game two, the Wildcats (17-19, 5-7) used a three-run fourth inning to take a 3-0 lead. WOU answered with a run in the bottom of the inning on a Bella Valdes RBI double. The Wolves scored a run in the seventh on a Maddie Doig RBI single and had the tying run on and the winning run at the plate, but couldn't complete the comeback and dropped its first game at home this season (9-1).

Chelsea Smith picked up the loss, going all seven innings and giving up three runs on four hits with 12 strikeouts and four walks. At the plate, WOU had just four hits.

WOU returns to action Friday as it opens a four-game series at Montana State Billings.