MONMOUTH, Ore. — The Western Oregon softball team swept Simon Fraser in a doubleheader Saturday at the WOU Softball Field, using a dramatic late rally to claim a 4-3 walk-off victory in the opener before completing the sweep with a 6-3 win in game two.
Game 1: Western Oregon 4, Simon Fraser 3
The Wolves (11-10) delivered late-game magic again, scoring two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to walk off Simon Fraser for the second time in two days.
Trailing 3-2 entering the final inning, Western Oregon was down to its final out before Victoria Zimmerman kept the game alive with a single. Madelynne Hommel followed with a base hit to extend the rally, bringing Lauren Mauer to the plate.
Mauer came through with the game-winning swing, lining a two-run double to complete the comeback and give the Wolves the 4-3 victory.
Western Oregon opened the scoring in the first inning when Zimmerman scored on Mauer's RBI double. Simon Fraser answered with a run in the second and two more in the third to take a 3-1 lead.
The Wolves cut the deficit to one in the fifth when Zimmerman scored again, setting the stage for the seventh-inning rally.
Mauer finished 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Zimmerman and Hommel each collected two hits.
In the circle, Kennedy Abbas earned the win with four scoreless innings of relief, allowing three hits while striking out three and walking two.
Game 2: Western Oregon 6, Simon Fraser 3
Western Oregon used a four-run second inning to take control and secure the doubleheader sweep.
The Wolves tied the game in the first inning when Hommel drove in a run, then broke the game open in the second. Sydney Conklin delivered the key hit of the inning helping the Wolves a 5-1 advantage.
Simon Fraser scored twice in the third to cut the lead to 5-3, but the Wolves added an insurance run in the sixth to seal the victory.
Hommel finished with a hit and two RBI while drawing two walks, extending her hitting streak to 17 games. Zimmerman also reached base twice and scored, while Lauren Mauer and Brooklyn Schneidt added hits.
Penny-Lew Barnett started in the circle and allowed three runs (two earned) over four innings with two strikeouts to pick up the win. Kennedy Abbas worked the final three innings in relief, allowing four hits with two strikeouts to earn the save.
The Wolves hit the road next week to take on Western Washington in another non-GNAC, four-game series.
