April 17, 2005

Final Stats

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Behind the standout pitching of Jackie Quint (So., Silverdale/Central Kitsap), Western Washington University rallied for a 2-1 victory and snapped nationally ranked Humboldt State University's 35-game winning streak in the nightcap of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball doubleheader Saturday at Viking Field.

The Lumberjacks, ranked No.3 in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association/NCAA Division II Top 25 Poll, won the opener 13-0 in a contest that was called after five innings because of the eight-run mercy rule. They are now 47-2 overall and 17-1 in GNAC play.

Western, which had a four-game winning streak end in the opener, is now 11-14 overall and 5-3 in league action.

"They understand now that they can beat anyone anywhere as long as they don't quit," said Western coach Lonnie Hicks. "We're young, but improving with every game. This is a big confidence builder."

Quint (6-5) allowed just one unearned run and three hits in the second game, striking out two and walking three in the complete-game victory.

The Vikings' Cortney Walton (So., Chesapeake, VA/Great Bridge) tied the game at 1-1 with a towering home run to left centerfield to leadoff the bottom of the fourth inning.

Western scored what proved to be the winning run in the fifth inning. Ashley Barber (Jr., Camas) led off with a single, advanced to second on a ground out, and scored on a line drive single to center by Megan McPhee (Sr., Anacortes).

Quint retired the last eight batters she faced. Humboldt State's only run came in the top of the fourth when Amy Rothballer reached base on a throwing error, went to third on a double by Meribeth Wareham, and scored on a wild pitch.

The Lumberjacks' Lizzy Prescott (17-1) got her first loss in 18 decisions this season. She worked 4-2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and striking out five.

Barber and McPhee each had two hits for Western. Barber, who was 3-for-4 on the day, extending her hitting streak to eight games, the longest by a Viking this season.

In the first game, Humboldt State sent 15 batters to the plate as it scored 10 runs in the top of the first inning. The Lumberjacks got eight hits in that frame, the big blows being a two-run double by Jessica Padilla, who also drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning, and a two-run single by Carolyn Cameron.

In all, the Lumberjacks had 11 hits. Cameron was 4-for-4, driving in three runs and scoring three, and Megan Sutherland was 3-for-3 with four runs batted in.

Tracy Motzny (25-1) pitched a two-hit shutout for Humboldt State, striking out five and walking two.

Western's two hits were a first-inning leadoff double by Barber and a fourth-inning single by Adrienne Moore (Sr., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest).

Western is at Northwest Nazarene University on Thursday (1:30 p.m. MT) for a GNAC twinbill.