The Pe Ell-Willapa Valley softball team came away with two impressive wins on the east side of the mountains on Saturday, defeating Kittitas 16-15 and Warden 12-1.
The first matchup was an absolute barnburner from start to finish.
The Titans jumped out to a massive early lead by scoring 15 runs in the first three innings, but the Coyotes clawed their way back with a six spot in the fifth to make it a 15-12 game.
PWV added an insurance run in the sixth, one that became crucial when Kittitas brought three home in the bottom of the seventh.
Eliza Barnum was able to get out of a jam at the end, as a lineout and strikeout stranded the tying and potential winning runs in scoring position.
Addison Merkel went 3 for 3 with a triple, two doubles, and an RBI, while Lauren Matlock and Jillian Hodel both collected three hits and drove in a combined five runs.
CJ Sipp also had three hits, including a double, and she drove in a run of her own.
The second game was less stressful in the final innings, as the Titans were able to come away with a run-rule win.
They scored eight runs across the first three innings before pushing the game into run-rule territory with one in the fifth and three in the sixth.
Hodel was excellent in the circle, as she allowed just five hits and one run while walking one and striking out nine in a complete game.
Karli Phelps went 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs, while Tylar Keeton had a triple and scored two runs as part of her two-hit day. Sipp added another two hits and drove in another run.
PWV (5-1, 2-0 P2BL) will be back on the road on Monday, when it travels to Adna for a rematch of a 2024 state quarterfinal.
