Thursday, April 30, 2015

YAKIMA, Wash. – Centerfielder Taviah Jenkins drove in four runs, including three with a double in the bottom of the sixth inning, as top-seeded Saint Martin’s broke open a close game scoring four runs and going on to defeat Western Oregon 8-5 Thursday in Game 2 of the GNAC Softball Championships at the Gateway Sports Complex.

The Saints (41-16), who have won nine in a row, advance to Friday’s 2 p.m. winner’s bracket game against third-seed Montana State Billings (27-21), which defeated No. 2 seed Western Washington 6-1 in Thursday’s first game.

Western Oregon (21-27) and Western Washington (28-17) will play in an elimination game at 4:30 p.m.

Saint Martin’s, which never trailed, jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning scoring on a RBI double by pitcher Sam Munger, a ground out by Jenkins, the GNAC’s top RBI producer who now has 60, and a sacrifice fly by third baseman Megan Miller.

Western Oregon got one back in the second on an infield hit by third baseman Destiny Kuehl  before the Saints countered in their half on a single by right fielder Mary Dettling to go ahead 4-1.

It stayed that way until the fifth when the Wolves put together four consecutive singles by left fielder Zoe Clark, centerfielder Amanda Evola, first baseman Jourdan Williams and shortstop Lexi Jennings to score two runs.

Munger, however, escaped the inning with the lead starting a 1-5-3 double play.

The Saints, who equaled their school record for most single season wins with their 41^st victory, then broke the game open in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases on an error, a single by Dettling and a walk to Munger before Jenkins unloaded them.

First baseman Dani Wall then singled to plate Jenkins and give SMU and 8-3 leading going into the seventh.

Western Oregon did manage to score two runs in its final at bat on a single by Williams and an error.  However, Munger, who improved her record to 23-4, got the final two outs on a strike out and fly out.

Munger scattered 10 hits in the win, including three by Evola and two each by Williams and catcher Ku’ulei Siolo.  Only three of WOU’s runs off her were earned as the Saints were charged with four errors.

Saint Martin’s had 12 hits, three each by Dettling and left fielder Lindsey Miller and two by Wall and second baseman Paige Miller.

Three games are on Friday’s schedule.  Following the SMU-MSUB game at 2 and the WWU-WOU game at 4:30, the loser of the SMU-MSUB game and the winner of the WWU-WOU game will play at 7 p.m. for a berth in Saturday’s championship game.

The eventual winner will earn an automatic berth in next week's NCAA Division II West Regionals.