Friday, May 7, 2021

MONMOUTH, Ore. – Western Oregon will live to play at least one more game thanks to Logan Carlos.

The junior went 4 for 4 with a grand slam and the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth to give the No. 4 seeded Wolves a 7-6 win over No. 3 seeded Saint Martin’s in game four of the GNAC Softball Championships at Western Oregon University.

Carlos’ grand slam ignited a five-run second inning that brought the Wolves back from five runs down. Carlos then led off the bottom of the sixth with a single and scored three batters later on a single by freshman Mariah Hyre.

The junior’s offensive effort allowed Western Oregon (14-16) to survive and advance to an elimination game with top-seeded Northwest Nazarene at 3:30 p.m. The Nighthawks and Wolves squared off in the opening game of the tournament on Thursday with NNU winning 1-0.

Saint Martin’s, the No. 3 seed, finishes the season with a 19-18 overall record.

Western Oregon manufactured a run to open scoring in the bottom of the first when Carlos hit a one-out double and scored two batters later on a sacrifice fly.

Saint Martin’s broke the game open in the second with an impressive six-run, two-out rally. Senior Karley Yoshioka reached on a one-out single, sophomore Kylee Vanderbout reached on a fielder’s choice and freshman Megan Convery was hit by a pitch. Freshman pinch-hitter Malia Pinder cleared the bases with her double to center field.

Freshman Britney Patrick followed with a double that scored Pinder, junior Julia Lucas singled to score Patrick and Lucas came home on an error to open the 6-1 advantage.

Western Oregon’s first three batters in the home half of the third on a hit batter and two walks. That set the table for Carlos, whose grand slam just made it over the fence in left field. Isabelle Lewis then reached on a walk and pinch-runner Sophie Franklin scored on a single by Sydney Bowers that evened the score at 6-6.

Both teams settled down from that point with WOU freshman Nicki Derrick allowing just one more hit over the final five innings and Saint Martin’s pitching allowing just one hit between the third and fifth innings.

Derrick improved to 3-1 with the win in relief, allowing the one hit and three walks while striking out one in 5.1 innings. Savannah Owen took the loss for Saint Martin’s, allowing one run on two hits with one strikeout in 2.1 innings of relief.