May 3, 2008

Box Score

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Western Washington University tied a school record by hitting three home runs in one game, one-fourth of its season total, but it wasn't enough as the Vikings lost 5-4 in nine innings as Western Oregon University completed a sweep Saturday in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball doubleheader at the WOU Softball Field.

The Vikings, who lost the opener 5-2, finished their season 24-24 overall and 11-13 in league play. They lost 17 of their last 25 games after a 16-7 start.

Western Oregon improved to 30-16 overall and tied for the GNAC title at 18-6 with Seattle University. The Wolves, who have won 17 of their last 21 contests, get the GNAC's automatic berth into the NCAA Division II West Regional because they defeated Seattle three out of four times in league play.

In the nightcap, the Vikings' Lisa Pendergrast (Sr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison) hit a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning and combined with Meghan Flem (So., Hood River, OR/Hood River Valley) for back-to-back solo shots in the sixth.

Pendergrast, who had entered the day with just one career home run, tied the school game standard with the two four baggers. Flem's round-tripper was her team-leading fifth of the season and increased her school career record total to 14.

With the score tied at 4-4 in the ninth, Western Oregon's Kristin Maglasang had a one-out infield single and advanced to second on a single by Jessica Hallmark. Maglasang scored the winning run as Trina Dorn ended the game with a walk-off single.

The Wolves had 13 hits, Hallmark going 4-for-5 with two runs batted in and two runs scored. She had RBI-doubles in the first when they scored twice and again in the fourth. Their other run came in the third when Krystal Pennington had a run-scoring single.

Western Oregon pitcher Katie Fleer (18-5) got her second win of the day, this time with 3-2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit.

Getting her second loss of the afternoon was the Vikings' Sarah McEnroe (So., Woodinville) (5-12), who pitched two complete games.

In the first game, Fleer struck out 11, scattered five hits and walked one; and Dorn drove in three runs and scored one as Western Oregon overcame two 40-minute rain delays for the 5-2 win.

Western Washington scored both of its runs in the second inning on a two-run double by Katie Barker (Jr., Auburn/Auburn-Riverside).

Dorn, who was 3-for-4, had three RBI singles as the Wolves scored three runs in the third, one in the fourth and one in the sixth.

Western Oregon had 12 hits in all, two each by Tyler Sutherland, who scored three runs, Kristin Maglasang and Jamie Becker.

Pendergrast (Sr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison), who raised her average to .300, was 2-for-3 for the Vikings.