PORTLAND, Ore.— Simon Fraser University split a doubleheader with Western Oregon, winning  the opener 5-4 but losing the second game 6-4 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball action on Sunday.

The split left the Clan 1-3 on its four game road trip with a 24-20 overall record and 10-12 (.455) in GNAC play. Simon Fraser sits sixth in the conference with three straight double headers remaining, all at home. The top four teams qualify for the GNAC post-season championship tournament. SFU is chasing Concordia (9-7), Western Washington (12-12) and Western Oregon (9-9).

The Simon Fraser doubleheader against Concordia on Tuesday at Beedie Field on campus has been postponed to Sunday, April 24. The Clan's next home games are April 22.

"I was pleased with our starts in both games especially after being shutout twice yesterday," said Clan head coach Mike Renney. "With the split we keep our playoffs hopes alive as we return home for our last 6 games of our regular season."

Game 1 – SFU 5 WOU 4

Sophomore Alia Stachoski and junior Tori Belton once again complimented each other on the shared mound work with Stachoski picking up the win to improve to 13-8 and Belton her seventh save. Together they gave up nine hits. Some timely hitting delivered SFU the win.

Simon Fraser scored three runs in the first inning and two in the second and then held on for the victory.

In the first, outfielder Taylor Gillis delivered a triple down the right field line to score two runs after designated hitter Nicole Ratel singled up the middle to score lead-off hitter Taylor Lundrigan.

Western Oregon got a two-run homerun in the bottom half of the inning to keep it close, trailing 3-2 after one inning.

SFU took advantage of three errors and a passed ball in the second inning to score two unearned runs and take a 5-2 lead. Western picked up a run in the third and seventh to make it close.

Belton came on in the seventh with one out and one runner on but she got out of the jam. Belton struck out the first batter she faced, and with two runners on, she got the final hitter to line out to short stop for the win. The Wolves left the potential winning run on base.

The Clan had four hits in the first two innings and just one more the rest of the game.

Western had nine hits in the contest.

Game 2 – SFU 4 WOU 6

Simon Fraser was in game two but couldn't get the break it needed for the win.

The teams were tied 3-3 after the fourth inning but Western picked up one run in each of the final three innings.

Belton went the distance for the Clan giving up 12 hits to fall to 9-8.

After collecting five hits in the opener the Clan managed six in the second game.

Nicole Ratel hit a two RBI single up the middle to give SFU a 2-0 lead in the first. Ratel recorded three hits in the game and is second in the conference with 40 RBI after weekend play.

SFU pinch runner Kendra Ho scored another run off a wild pitch in the fourth to draw the Clan even at 3-3. Senior Alex Baylak drove in the final run in the sixth inning on a fielder's choice.

Follow the SFU Clan softball team for behind the scenes pictures and more all season long on their official Instagram account @sfu_softball.

--@SFUClan--