Saturday, April 14, 2012

Kendra George had a game-ending home run in the first game and two hits in the second contest as Western Oregon ran its win streak to eight games sweeping Central Washington 2-0 and 6-3 at the WOU Softball Field Saturday.

The Wolves (16-21) leveled their conference record at 12-12 but stayed nine back of first-place Montana State Billings (30-10, 23-5), which swept Northwest Nazarene, 9-4 and 9-0.

MSUB reduced its magic number for clinching the GNAC's automatic berth in next month's NCAA West regionals to four (a combination of MSUB wins and Saint Martin's losses).

Its magic number for clinching the GNAC title is five (a combination of MSUB wins and Simon Fraser losses).

Saint Martin's (25-15-1, 15-10) dropped 6 1/2 back of the 'Jackets by splitting 8-0 decisions with Western Washington (12-29, 8-16) Saturday. Simon Fraser (17-9 in the GNAC), which was idle, is five back but is ineligible for the playoffs.

George snapped a scoreless deadlock with a one-out home run to center field off CWU pitcher Maria Gau, who took a one-hitter into the final frame before surrendering a lead-off pinch hit single to Ali Parkerson.

Following a fielder's choice in which CWU (13-24, 9-16) got a force on pinch-runner Ashlie Gardner at second, George ended it with her slam making a winner out of Hannah Pomeroy for the fourth time this week.

Pomeroy allowed seven hits - two to CWU lead-off hitter Breanna Thomas, to raise her won-loss record to 6-7 after starting the week at 2-7.

In the second game, the Wolves built a 6-0 lead after four innings as Amanda Evola had three hits and Jourdan Williams and Desiree Villegas each drove in two runs.

Williams homered for two runs in the first and Villegas had a two-run single during a two-run third inning. George doubled in the fourth and scored an insurance run on a single by Lexi Orteza.

Carrina Wagner had a three-run home run for CWU's runs in the fifth. Wagner, Thomas and Elena Carter all had two hits off of WOU pitcher Brittany Reeves (4-3) who scattered nine hits in going the distance.