Western Oregon Journal

Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: Big Red Sports

Katie Fleer Pitches against Humboldt State.

Western's softball team continued its preseason tune-up over spring break, going 4-5 while participating in the Mizuno Tournament of Champions, hosted by Cal State Stanislaus. The Wolves had wins against Cal State Monterey Bay, Sonoma and Chico State. Cal State Dominguez Hills, San Francisco State, Humboldt State and UC San Diego all handed the Wolves losses.

On Friday, March 28, the Wolves split a pair of games against Chico State and San Francisco State on the first day of the Mizuno Tournament. The Wolves took advantage of a 15-strikeout performance by Katie Fleer to win game one over Chico State. In game two the Wolves were held scoreless by Kendra Wood of San Francisco. Western continued tournament play on Saturday with games against Cal State Dominguez Hills, Humboldt State and Sonoma State.

On Saturday, the Wolves capped a long day marked by losses to Cal State Dominguez Hills and Humboldt State, by beating Sonoma State 5-2. Cal State Dominguez Hills found its groove early against the Wolves en route to a 9-2 victory. Western had just five hits in the game, two of them by Amanda Fleer. Fleer hit a solo home in the second inning 2nd Miranda Little had an RBI single in the sixth inning. Against Humboldt State the Wolves dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to No. 1 regionally ranked Humboldt State. In the night-cap against Sonoma Western scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning to account for all the scoring that they would need. The Wolves had four hits in the inning, including a two-run single by Jamie Becker.

On the final day of the tournament, the Wolves topped Sonoma State for the second straight day, but fell to No. 10 nationally ranked UC San Diego in the semi-finals. In the first game freshman Jessica Wood tossed a four-hit shut out to pick up their second consecutive win over Sonoma State. UC San Diego held the Wolves with Melissa Ward's 11 strike-out performance against the Wolves on her way to a five-hit shutout in the 2-0 win.

With the preseason over, the Wolves return to Monmouth to begin GNAC play. On April 5, the Wolves open conference play against St. Martin's in a double header on the Western Oregon softball field. Come out and cheer on the 15-13 Wolves as they begin their drive to unseat Western Washington who sits atop the GNAC standings.•

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