The Pe Ell-Willapa Valley softball team got two games in on the coast Wednesday, beating Ocosta 1-0 in a pitchers’ duel before falling 7-5.
Game 1 saw a battle of aces, between PWV’s Lauren Emery and Ocosta’s Jessie Gilbert, who both tossed complete games and combined for 32 strikeouts.
Emery allowed a lead-off single in the bottom of the first and then held the Wildcats hitless the rest of the way. She gave up four free passes, three of which were intentional walks to Gilbert; the Titans went on to put Ocosta’s star sophomore on base for free in all seven of her plate appearances across the doubleheader.
PWV finally broke the scoreless deadlock in Game 1 in the sixth inning, when Lauren Matlock drew a leadoff walk and the Titans pushed her around the bases without a hit. Matlock did get two of the Titans’ three knocks in the game.
Game 2 saw the Titans figure out Gilbert a bit more early, scoring four runs in the first three innings. But the Wildcats figured out Emery late, and three errors in the seventh inning helped gift Ocosta three runs to take the lead at its last chance.
PWV is scheduled to take on Ilwaco twice next Tuesday.