April 3, 2005
Final Stats
MODESTO, Calif. - After coming back to win two games Saturday and reach the Gold Bracket at the Tournament of Champions, Western Washington University lost 8-0 in five innings to Chico State University in a first-round, loser-out contest Sunday at the Rainbow Softball Fields.
The Vikings, who fell to 6-13, got just four hits off Wildcat pitcher Kristin Paese (10-1), who struck out seven.
Chico State, which remained unbeaten in five tourney games, improved to 17-7. The Wildcats have won 14 of their last 16 contests.
Chico State's attack was led by Katie Stokx and Chelsea Lundberg. Stokx had a run-scoring single and Lundberg a sacrifice fly as the Wildcats broke a scoreless tie with two runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Stokz then had a two-run single and Lundberg a two-run homer as Chico State scored six runs in the fourth. The game ended in the fifth inning because of the eight-run mercy rule.
Mandy Kaestner (Jr., Coeur d'Alene, ID/Lake City) had a first inning triple for Western. The Vikings other three hits, all singles, were by Ashley Barber (Jr., Camas), Adrienne Moore (Sr., Lake Forest Park/Shorecrest) and Katie Barker (Fr., Auburn/Auburn-Riverside).
Western finished the tournament with a 2-3 record, defeating Grand Canyon, 5-2, and Cal State San Bernardino, 6-3, on Saturday after losing 9-1 in five innings to both Montana State-Billings and Cal State Bakersfield on Friday.
Moore led the Vikings with a .417 batting average, getting five hits in 12 at bats. Kaestner hit .357, going 5-for-14.
Western returns to Great Northwest Athletic Conference action Thursday (2 p.m.), traveling to Seattle University for a doubleheader.
