MONMOUTH, Ore. – In a showdown between a couple of the best pitchers in the GNAC, it was a bunt single in the fifth inning that scored the lone run as Western Washington defeated Saint Martin's 1-0 in the opening round of the GNAC Championships.
 
Abby Runyon, who was recently named to the GNAC second team All-Conference, started the first four innings against the GNAC Pitcher of the Year Anna Kasner of Western Washington. Runyon allowed only the one run on four hits while striking out one before Tia Ridings came in to pitch. The freshman went two scoreless innings, allowing only two hits, and striking out.
 
However, the Saints' offense were unable to figure out Kasner, collecting one hit, and one walk. Emery Norwood led off the game with a single to left, but it wasn't until the sixth when Destiny Conerly drew a walk that the Saints got another runner on the bases. Unfortunately, the Saints were unable to manufacture a run, and fell 1-0.
 
The Saints face off against fourth seeded Western Oregon in an elimination game. First pitch is scheduled for 12:30 PM with live stats and streaming available on smusaints.com.