March 23, 2006
Box Score
CHICO, Calif. - Western Washington University took advantage of an error and four wild pitches to score three unearned runs in the top of the seventh and defeat Chico State University, 3-1, in the nightcap of a non-league softball doubleheader Thursday at University Field.
The Vikings' victory, which improved their record to 7-13, salvaged a split of the twinbill as Chico State won the opener 7-0. The Wildcats are 8-10.
Trailing 1-0, Western tied the second game in the seventh on a run-scoring single by Misty Britt (Jr., Kelso/Lower Columbia CC). Mandy Harvey (Sr., Coeur d'Alene, ID/Lake City) drove in the go-head run with a sacrifice fly and Britt scored on a wild pitch.
Chico State's run, which came in the bottom of the sixth, was unearned as Nelly Bera reached base on an error and scored on a double by Chelsea Lundberg.
Western pitcher Jackie Quint (Sr., Camas) evened her record at 5-5 with the complete-game win, retiring the first nine batters she faced. Quint struck out nine and gave up just four hits, all singles.
Cala Risse (3-4) got the loss for Chico State, giving up seven hits in 6-2/3 innings, striking out one, walking two and throwing five wild pitches.
Britt, who had five hits on the day, had two in the victory as did Cortney Walton (Jr., Chesapeake, VA/Great Bridge) and Ashley Barber (Sr., Camas).
In the first game, the Vikings were blanked for the fifth time in six doubleheader openers this season.
Western managed just five hits off Wildcat pitcher Kristin Paese (4-4), who went the distance, striking out 10 and walking three.
Chico State's Jenny Chacon had two hits and scored twice on wild pitches, once in the bottom of the second inning for the Wildcats' first run, and again in the fifth. She also brought in a run by drawing a bases-loaded walk in the sixth.
Angela Vandeburgh also had two hits for Chico State, including a two-run single in the fourth; and Nickie Jarrett drove in two runs with sacrifice flies in the fifth and sixth.
Britt had three hits for Western, with Amanda Shiflet (Fr., Stanwood) and Barber each having one.
The Vikings' Nicole Walker (Jr., Kenmore/Juanita) (2-6) pitched into the fifth inning before being relieved by Ashley Osman (Jr., Federal Way/Jefferson).
Western, which has lost six of its last eight contests, completes its eight-game northern California road trip with a doubleheader at Cal State Stanislaus on Saturday.
