Wednesday, April 24, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. – Three wins in four road games last weekend has earned Western Oregon University’s softball team GNAC Team of the Week honors.

The Wolves swept Simon Fraser 4-0 and 10-6 last Saturday before dividing a pair of games Sunday with Western Washington.  The Wolves won the opener 6-3 before losing the nightcap 6-2.

WOU (23-24 overall) takes a 12-8 conference record into the final weekend of regular-season play and currently is in fourth place, two games ahead of fifth-place Western Washington (10-10).

The top four teams qualify for next weekend’s playoff at Billings, Mont.

“Our team really came together in practice and competed at a high level,” WOU first-year coach Lonny Sargent said.  “We knew going into the weekend how important the games were in regards to the standings and the team really responded.”

Pitcher Hannah Pomeroy had a great weekend, winning two games and allowing just five hits and one earned run in 14 innings in improving her season record to 12-6.  She blanked Simon Fraser 4-0 on one hit before beating Western Washington 6-3. 

Those performances earned Pomeroy GNAC Red Lion Pitcher of the Week honors.

“Hannah (Pomeroy) was fantastic,” Sargent said.  “She had all of her pitches working and she put together two of her best performances of the year.  It was great to see because she has been a terrific leader for us all season.”

Offensively, designated hitter Desiree Villegas, center fielder Amanda Evola and shortstop Melanie Pfeiffer led the Wolves.

Villegas had four hits in nine at bats,  Evola went five for 13 and drove in a team-high four runs, while Pfeiffer had five hits in 16 at bats.

Western Oregon concludes its regular-season with home doubleheaders Friday and Saturday against Northwest Nazarene and Central Washington.

The Wolves can clinch a berth in the playoffs with three wins in their final four contests.