Sunday, April 27, 2014

GNAC Championships (May 1-3 at Columbia Playfield, Richland, Wash.):  Thursday - #2 Western Washington (30-12) vs. #3 Central Washington (27-16), 4:30 p.m.; #1 Western Oregon (30-20) vs. #4 Saint Martin’s (26-20), 7 p.m.  Friday – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 2 p.m.; Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 4:30 p.m.; Loser Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 7 p.m.  Saturday – Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, noon; Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 6, 2:30 p.m. (if necessary).

PORTLAND, Ore. - Centerfielder Amanda Evola had five hits and drove in five runs to lead Western Oregon to a 9-0, 10-2 doubleheader sweep of Simon Fraser Sunday at Monmouth, securing the Wolves the 2014 Great Northwest Athletic Conference regular-season softball title.

The Wolves (30-20, 18-6) earned the No. 1 seed in the GNAC tournament, which begins Thursday at Columbia Playfield in Richland, Wash.  The winner of the tournament will receive the GNAC's automatic berth in the NCAA Regionals which begin Thursday, May 8.

The Wolves will play defending champion and fourth-seed Saint Martin's (26-20, 15-9)  in their opening game at 7 p.m.  Second-seed Western Washington (30-12, 17-7) will face third-seed Central Washington (27-16, 16-8) in Thursday's first game at 4:30 p.m.

Evola had three hits, catcher Bridjet Box hit a three-run home run in a six-run first inning and Kelli Demianew tossed a four-hit shutout to key WOU's first-game victory.

WOU also put the second game away early posting a 10-spot in the first inning.  Evola had two hits in the frame, including a grand slam home run in her second at bat.

Western Washington had a chance to tie for the regular-season title Sunday but split a doubleheader at Saint Martin's.  The Saints rallied from 3-0 and 5-4 deficits to win the opener scoring two runs in the bottom of the eighth on a wild pitch and fielder's choice.

Sam Munger picked up her 19th win - she leads the GNAC in that category - against 14 losses.  WWU outhit the Saints 15-10 - left fielder Autumn Isaacson, centerfielder Kaleigh Keating and third baseman Emma Blauser had three each - but hit into two double plays and stranded 10.

Second baseman Lacey McGladrey, third baseman Megan Miller, shortstop Dani Wall and left fielder Alyssa Slate each had two hits for the Saints.

In the second game, Western Washington led 4-2 until the Saints scored two runs in the sixth on singles by McGladrey and Miller to tie it.  WWU, however, got a run in the seventh to win it as Isaacson singled, stole her 30th base of the season, advanced to third on an error and scored on a single by Keating.

SMU advanced a runner to third in the bottom of the inning, but pitcher Aspen Ison got a strikeout to end the game and improve her record to 7-3.

Keating had two of WWU's eight hits.  One of the hits was a solo home run by first baseman Alexie Levin.  It was her school-record 10th of the season.  Levin leads the GNAC in batting (.433), home runs and RBI (46) and is making a bid to win the GNAC's Triple Crown. Isaacson's stolen base total is a GNAC record.

Right fielder Mary Dettling had three hits and McGladrey had two for the Saints.