Punching Up a couple classifications, the Pe Ell-Willapa Valley softball team won in dramatic fashion in its first game against 3A Auburn Mountainview, 9-8, but fell 8-3 to 3AAuburn Riverside in the ensuing game in Auburn Friday night.
In the first game against the Lions, the Titans gave up all eight runs the Lions scored in the first four innings, trailing 8-4, before rifling back to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth.
After holding the Lions without a run in the top of the seventh, Lorelei Smaciarz doubled to leadoff the inning, Lauren Matlock drew a walk, and Smaciarz stole third and home while Jillian Hodel was up to bat to walk off winners.
Eliza Barnum got the start in the circle and threw 6 1/3 innings, giving up eight runs — with five earned — on eight hits and nine walks, while also striking out four. Grace Huber went 1 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI, Rilyn Channell went 2 for 4 with an RBI, and Payton Peterson went 3 for 4 with two runs scored and two RBIs.
In the second game, the Titans fell into another early hole, falling behind 3-0 before tying the game at 3-3 in the top of the sixth. The Ravens responded with a 5-spot in the sixth, and the Titans couldn’t make up the difference for a second time in the top of the seventh to fall, 8-3, in Friday’s finale in Auburn.
The Titans out-hit the Ravens, 7-5, but committed six costly errors in the loss, with Lauren Emery and Barnum giving up just one earned run as a pitching duo. Emery went 5 2/3 innings with four hits, five walks, and nine strikeouts against the 3A squad.
Sophia Milanowski continued her hot start, going 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and Huber added a 1 for 3 line with a run scored and one run batted in.
