March 22, 2003
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University's Jodie Rock (Jr., Anacortes) lined a two-run, pinch-hit homer down the leftfield line that ended the game in the sixth inning because of the eight-run mercy rule as the Vikings blanked Western Oregon University, 8-0, in the opener of Saturday's Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball doubleheader at Viking Field.
Western Oregon came back for a 2-0 win in the nightcap as Tracy Jones (4-3) pitched a four-hit shutout. It was the first time that the Vikings had been held scoreless this season as they had a four-game winning streak snapped, falling to 8-4 overall and 5-2 league.
Western Oregon, which had not played since March 6, improved to 10-6 overall and 3-1 league with the victory. Val King, who had three hits in the game, drove in what proved to be the winning run with a double in the third. The Wolves got an insurance run in the fourth as Lydia Foster singled and later scored on an error.
Western Washington pitchers Sarah Diamond (So., Sedro Woolley) and Amanda Grant (Sr., Mukilteo/Kamiak) combined for a three-hit shutout in the first game.
Diamond (1-0) scattered three hits before being literally knocked out of the game in the fifth on a line drive single off her right knee by Western Oregon's Marisa Card. Grant replaced Diamond and did not allow a hit in two innings of relief pitching.
The Wolves got just one ball out of the infield in the contest, that a fly ball to centerfield off Diamond in the third.
Western Oregon's other hits, besides Card's, were an infield single by Meagen Palmateer in the third and a bunt single by Jackie Rojas in the fourth.
Western Washington took a 2-0 lead in the first, Dani Deyette (Jr., Olympia) doubling in a run and scoring herself on an error. The Vikings tallied three more runs in the third as Western Oregon committed three errors and Rachel Laitala (Sr., Woodinville) had a run-scoring double in the fourth.
In all, Western Washington had 12 hits off Western Oregon's Allison Sempsis (5-2). Deyette and Adrienne Moore (So., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest) each had two safeties for the Vikings. They had five extra-base hits, Lindsay Walton (So., Chesapeake, VA) and Charity Harmeson (Jr., Oxnard, CA) also having doubles.
Grant has yet to give up a hit in three relief appearances this season that have covered 6-2/3 innings. She also has started three games, having a 4-0 record and a 0.77 earned run average.
Trailing 2-0 in the second game, Western Washington loaded the bases with one out. Jessi Williams (Sr., Everett/Cascade) tried to squeeze bunt, but Rock was thrown out at home plate. Ashley Barber (Fr., Camas) then grounded to the second baseman, Williams being called out for interference on the play that ended the threat.
Western Oregon's Jones retired the last eight batters she faced, allowing just four singles, striking out one and issuing one walk.
The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for Western Washington over the Wolves. Western Washington travels to northern California next week for four doubleheaders in five days, beginning Monday (1 p.m.) at Sonoma State University.
