BURNABY, B.C. – The Simon Fraser softball team lost 5-2 and 2-1 Friday in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at Western Oregon.

Junior outfielder Megan Duclos (Saint-Eustache, Que.) got two stolen bases – one in each game – to reach 29 on the season. She is four away from tying the GNAC record of 33, recorded by Autumn Isaacson of Western Washington in 2015.
 
GAME 1 – Western Oregon 5, Simon Fraser 2
SFU (6-18, 1-5 GNAC) fell behind 3-0 in the first inning and couldn't overturn the deficit. On consecutive at-bats, Western Oregon (11-14, 3-1 GNAC) got runs on a Natalie Willoughby sacrifice fly, a Kirah McGlothan RBI single, and a Maddie Doig RBI double down the right-field line.

The Red Leafs made it 3-1 in the second. Sophomore designated player Kristen Davyduke (Saskatoon) singled up the middle to lead off the inning. Then sophomore outfielder Janique Balcaen (Winnipeg) drove a double down the left-field line and moved Davyduke to third. Caitlin Zagari, a sophomore from Winnipeg who played first base, scored Davyduke with an RBI groundout to second.

The Wolves stretched their lead to 5-1 with runs in the third and fifth innings.
 

Balcaen and Zagari opened the seventh with singles. Freshman Anika Janzen (Chilliwack, B.C.) pinch ran for Balcaen, and eventually came home on an RBI groundout by freshman catcher Rachel Boles (Maple Ridge, B.C.) for the final run of the game.

Balcaen went 2-for-3 batting to lead the Red Leafs.
 
GAME 2 – Western Oregon 2, Simon Fraser 1
The hosts completed the doubleheader sweep by taking a pitchers' duel in Game 2.

Sophomore Julia Hansen (Beaconsfield, Que.) struck out six batters, and gave up one earned run, in a complete-game, 87-pitch performance for SFU. Chelsea Smith of the Wolves scattered five hits and surrendered a run in seven innings of work. She struck out 10 batters, and had to throw 149 pitches to earn the victory.

Shortstop Amy Hughes gave the Red Leafs a 1-0 advantage in the fourth inning with a home run to left-center field. It is the first home run at the university level for the Brampton, Ont., rookie.
 

However, Western Oregon scored twice in the fifth to earn the win. Chelby Smalley scored on a throwing error that occurred on a sequence that began with a Victoria Zimmerman single. On the next play, Katelyn McGough came home on a fielder's choice to record what ended up as the game-winning run.

Both squads had chances to create more offence. The Wolves loaded the bases with one out in the top of the first but Hansen struck out McGlothan and induced a fielder's choice to end the threat. WOU had the bases full in the fourth, with two outs. Again, Hansen came up big, striking out Logan Carlos. In the fifth up 1-0, SFU loaded the bases with two outs but couldn't add another run.

Duclos went 2-for-2 at the plate and also drew a pair of walks. Hughes was 2-for-3 with the lone RBI for the Red Leafs.

The two teams will wrap up their weekend series Saturday with a 12 noon doubleheader in Monmouth, Oregon.
 
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