LACEY, Wash. – Behind a combined shutout effort from
Tia Ridings, and
Chloe Leverington, along with a clutch two-RBI pinch-hit double from
Kaleena Yra, the Saints split the doubleheader with Western Oregon, 3-0 and 10-0, at home.
Neither team could crack the opposing pitching, with the scoring holding at 0-0 after five and half innings in the opening game. However, the Saints (4-6) had opportunities to get on the board earlier, leaving runners in scoring position in first and second inning. In the second, the Saints managed to load the bases, before a foul out to right field ending the threat.
In the sixth inning, Saint Martin's led off the frame with a ground out and a fly out, looking like the game would remain scoreless going to the final frame. However, the Saints found some life after
Devyn Connolly singled to right field, and
Shay Lopes followed up with a single to right of her own. Yra was called in to pinch hit, and the freshman did not disappoint. The lefty crushed a ball to left center field, scoring both runners and broke open the scoreless with tie with a two RBI double. After
Kekai Schultz checked back in to pinch run, Schultz came around to score on an error by Western Oregon to make it a 3-0 game.
Leverington allowed the bases loaded in the top of the seventh, but worked out of the jam with a pop up and line out to second base to seal the victory.
Ridings began the game, going four plus innings, allowing just one hit and no earned runs with five strikeouts to quiet the Wolves' bats. Leverington came in for the final three innings, earning the victory with four strikeouts.
However, in the second game, Saint Martin's was unable to capitalize on the bases loaded in the first and third inning to quickly put Western Oregon in the hole. The Wolves instead added three runs in the third, and capped off the game with a four-run sixth to claim the 10-0 doubleheader split.
Saint Martin's heads to Western Washington tomorrow for another non-conference doubleheader, beginning at noon. Live stats and video will be available on smusaints.com.