LACEY, Wash. – The Saint Martin's softball team (10-5, 1-1 GNAC) opened conference play on Saturday to the tune of a split with Western Oregon University (9-14, 1-1 GNAC). The Saints lost game one by a score of 4-5, before defeating the Wolves in game two 5-2. Freshman Shelby Lawson as well as junior Britney Patrick were stellar offensive, each batting .600 in the doubleheader. The two teams were slated to play Sunday, but only got in two and a half innings before the game was postponed due to rain.
 
Game one was a heartbreaker for SMU as they seemed to severely outplay the Wolves, but just couldn't come up with the big hits when it mattered most. Lawson started the scoring with the first home run of her collegiate career, going yard to left center field in the bottom of the second inning. In the fourth, the train came off the tracks, however, and WOU plated four runs to go up 4-1. Haley Agena came through clutch in the bottom half of that frame with a big two RBI single to score Lawson and Shay Lopes and cut the deficit to one. Then it was Olivia Schmidt forcing the tying run across with an RBI fielder's choice in the fifth. Despite Chloe Leverington's solid relief outing going 3.1 innings and striking out five, a run squeaked across in the top of the seventh and the Saints couldn't answer in their last chance. The frustrating game saw SMU leave 11 runners on base compared to just four from Western Oregon.
FINAL: Western Oregon 5, Saint Martin's 4
 
SMU took care of business in game two after falling behind early, then waiting through a long rain delay. Patrick came through in the bottom of the first, ripping a double that scored Lopes and made it 1-1. Lawson, who had reached base on a single, also scored that inning on a wild pitch. In the third, SMU added to their lead with another cutch tally from Patrick who brought across Lopes on a single. Destiny Conerly scored Agena on a sac fly and it was 4-1 Saints. The scoring was rounded out in the fifth when Patrick found herself scoring on a double from Conerly.
Abby Runyon picked up the win in the circle, going 5.1 and striking out four, while Tia Ridings came on in reliefs and grabbed her first save of the season when she shut down the Wolves.
FINAL: Saint Martin's 5, Western Oregon 2
 
The Saints and Wolves were slated to play a doubleheader Sunday, but rain put the game in limbo midway through the third with the score in favor of the Saints 8-3. SMU and WOU will finish that game and play one more at a later date. The Saints are on tap to stay at home this week and battle with the Yellowjackets of MSU-Billings (7-12, 1-3 GNAC) on Saturday and Sunday, the 18^th and 19^th. First pitch on Saturday is scheduled for 1 PM at Saints Field.