May 5, 2007
Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University won its first Great Northwest Athletic Conference championship and earned an automatic berth in the NCAA Division II West Regional by sweeping Western Oregon University, 4-0 and 7-5, in a softball doubleheader Saturday at Viking Field on the WWU campus.
The Vikings improved to 33-19 overall, tying the school record for most wins in a season first set in 1998 and matched in 1999, and finished 15-5 in GNAC play. They have won their last 11 games and 20 of their last 24.
Western Oregon dropped to 25-24 overall and placed second at 14-6 in league action.
The Wolves were eliminated from post-season consideration because they are currently 20-23 in Division II games and will finish below .500. A .500 record is required for at-large regional consideration.
In the nightcap, Western Washington's Liza Teichler (Jr., Sammamish/Skyline) was 3-for-4, driving in four runs and scoring two, and Jackie Quint (Sr., Silverdale/Central Kitsap) won her second game of the day, improving to 18-9 and upping her school-record victory total.
The Vikings broke a 3-3 tie with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, all with two outs. Nicole Walker (Sr., Kenmore/Juanita) put the Vikings in front with a single to score Morgan Parkerson (So., RAF Lakenheath, England). Teichler followed with a three-run homer, her fourth of the season, to give Western Washington a 7-3 lead.
Western Oregon closed to 7-5 with two unearned runs in the seventh.
The Vikings had taken a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Teichler hit a two-out double and scored on a single by Meghan Flem (Fr., Hood River, OR/Hood River Valley).
Western Oregon tied the score at 1-1 in the third. Melissa Wilson led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on a two-out single by Tyler Sutherland.
The Wolves loaded the bases in the fourth. Quint, who relieved Sarah McEnroe (Fr., Woodinville) after the first two batters reached base, worked out of the jam.
Western Washington scored twice in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. Parkerson had a lead-off single and McEnroe reached on an error on her sacrifice attempt. With one out, the Vikings loaded the bases on a bunt single by Walker. Parkerson scored on a bloop single by Teichler and McEnroe came home on a fielder's choice by Flem.
Western Oregon tied the game at 3-3 with two runs in the sixth, one on a sacrifice fly by Bonnie Trigero and another on an error.
Quint threw her second straight shutout in the opener. She scattered five hits, struck out nine and walked three.
Flem gave the Vikings' an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, hitting the first pitch over the left field fence, her ninth homer of the season to extend her school record.
The Vikings broke the game open with three runs in the fifth. Parkerson doubled and scored on a single by Misty Britt (Sr., Kelso). Teichler doubled in Britt, and Teichler scored on a single by Ashley Osman (Sr., Federal Way/Jefferson).
Quint worked out of two jams. In the second, Western Oregon stranded runners on second and third with one out. Then in the third, the Wolves loaded the bases with two outs, but that rally ended when second baseman Katie Barker (So., Auburn/Auburn-Riverside) made the defensive play of the game, running down a pop up behind first base.
Parkerson, Britt and Flem each had two hits for Western Washington. The Wolves' Amanda Fleer was 3-for-3.
Western Washington and Western Oregon conclude the regular season Sunday (12 noon) with a non-conference doubleheader.
