The third-seeded Simon Fraser University softball team opened up the Great Northwest Athletic Conference playoffs with a 3-2 victory over the second-seeded Western Oregon Wolves in women's softball.
The win puts SFU into the second round of the double elimination tournament against regular season conference champion Saint Martin's tomorrow (Friday) at 9 a.m.
"When you get to this stage every win is a good win," said SFU head coach Mike Renney. "I think it came down to both teams pitching well and each team made a couple errors early on that led to runs before we settled into a pitching duel."
Cara Lukawesky started the game and got the win for the Clan, going four innings, allowing one run on two hits while striking out six.
Kelsie Hawkins came on in relief of Lukawesky in the fifth inning and pitched the final three innings of the game, allowing one run on four hits, while striking out three to record the save.
Trisha Bouchard batted in the first two runs of the game with a two-run double to right centre field in the first inning, scoring Kaitlyn Cameron and Lauren Mew to give SFU an early 2-0 lead.
Western Oregon got on the board with a single run in the bottom of the first until Cameron's game-winning solo home run in the top of the sixth inning.
"We went with tandem pitchers and both Cara (Lukawesky) and Kelsie (Hawkins) threw well. Cameron's home run was much needed insurance. She finished her at bat strong. She's a good two-strike hitter and hit a curve ball that was meant to be outside and didn't quite get there," said Renney.
The win improves the Clan's record to 28-21 on the season.
All-academic
Simon Fraser University softball second baseman Lauren Mew was named to the Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic team.
It is the third year in a row the senior has earned a spot on the team.
Mew, a senior, is studying business administration at SFU and boasts a 3.46 grade point average. She also received honourable mention on the conference all-star teams which were announced earlier.
Heading into post season play, Mew has started in 44 of 46 games this season for the Clan. She has hit 0.314, scored 24 runs, batted in 13 more runs, has an on-base percentage of 0.382 and a fielding percentage of 0.946.
To be eligible for the team, student-athletes must have a minimum GPA of 3.20 and have competed in more than 50 percent of their teams games.
