Red Leafs earn first GNAC win of the season in home opener against the Wolves on March 29, 2024
 
The Simon Fraser Red Leafs (6-22, 1-9 GNAC) finally celebrated their home opener for the 2024 season with a doubleheader against Western Oregon (16-13, 4-2 GNAC). The two games were the first of twelve straight at home for the Red Leafs.
 
The home fans were treated to a dramatic 1-0 extra innings victory in the first game of the day, which snapped SFU's fourteen-game losing streak. The Wolves got their revenge in the second game, taking a 5-1 win.
 
Game 1 – SFU 1, Western Oregon 0 (8 inn.)
The first game was a showcase performance from Monica Bourque, the freshman pitcher who threw her second career complete game shutout, and her first that didn't involve a mercy rule. Bourque gave up a single to the first batter of the game, but then didn't surrender another hit until midway through the sixth inning.
 
The Red Leafs were able to get more going offensively than their opponents, including getting a runner on second base in each of the first three innings, but weren't able to bring them home.
 
Neither team was able to score through seven innings of play, sending SFU to just their second extra-innings game this season. After Bourque retired three straight batters in the top half of the eighth it was Abby McGlynn who provided heroics with a solo homerun, her first of the season. The victory was the Red Leafs' first in conference play this season.
 
Game 2 – Western Oregon 5, SFU 1
The Wolves were determined to not be shutout once again, and got on the board in the first inning of the second game of the day. They then tacked up two more in the top of the third, before Megan Duclos stole home following a McGlynn walk to get a run for SFU.
 
Unfortunately, despite getting ten batters on base over the course of the game, the Red Leafs were unable to bring home any more runs. The Wolves tacked on two more in the sixth and seventh to take a 5-1 road win.
 
Janique Balcaen recorded two of SFU's four hits, including a double. Nevada Johnson pitched well in relief, going four innings while giving up just three hits and one earned run.
 
The Red Leafs and Wolves will go at it once again on Saturday with another doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for noon at Beedie Field.
 

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Red Leafs fall to Wolves in home doubleheader on March 30, 2024
 
The Simon Fraser Red Leafs (6-24, 1-11 GNAC) suffered a pair of defeats at the hands of the Western Oregon Wolves (18-13, 6-2 GNAC) to finish off their first home series of the year.
 
Despite a strong start to the day the Red Leafs eventually fell 5-2 and 5-1 in the afternoon doubleheader.
 
Game 1 – Western Oregon 5, SFU 2
After a scoreless first two innings, it was SFU who got on the board first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the third off a wild play.
 
With two runners on base Megan Duclos laid down a bunt, and the Red Leafs were gifted a glorious opportunity when the Wolves committed an error throwing to first. Anika Janzen and Rachel Boles took full advantage as they both scampered home.
 
The Wolves clawed their way back into things with a run in each of the fourth and fifth to tie the game. The score was deadlocked from there through regulation play and into extra innings. The game went all the way to the ninth, where SFU unfortunately spotted the Wolves three runs including two on a single play from the combination of a fielder's choice and throwing error.
 
Monica Bourque pitched all nine innings for the Red Leafs, giving up only one earned run.
 
Game 2 – Western Oregon 5, SFU 1
It was the visitors who jumped out to the early lead in the second game of the day with an RBI single in the first, but Kristen Davyduke responded with a solo homer in the second to even things up.
 
From there though it was all Wolves, as they put up four runs over the next two innings to take a 5-1 lead that they would hold for the rest of the game. The Red Leafs managed to get their offence going a little more as the game went on, but left runners stranded on base in both the sixth and seventh.
 
SFU now has a week to prepare for their next series, a pair of home doubleheaders against Western Washington on Friday, April 5^th and Saturday, April 6^th. First pitch on Friday is set for noon at Beedie Field.