March 23, 2012
Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
NAMPA, Idaho - Meghan Carrillo (So., Prunedale, CA) and Kristen Allen (Jr., Arlington) each had a pair of multi-hit games as Western Washington University split a wild a Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball doubleheader at Northwest Nazarene University on Friday, winning the opener, 10-9, in eight innings, before dropping the nightcap, 12-11.
The Vikings are now 4-18 overall and 2-10 in the GNAC. Northwest Nazarene is now 4-16 overall, 4-12 in conference play.
Western's victory came in remarkable fashion, as the Vikings entered the seventh trailing, 7-3, but erupted for six runs in the top of the inning. Amanda Flores (Fr., Ferndale) had a three-run homer to ignite the rally, and a two-run single by Stephanie Fox (Sr., Sammamish/Eastlake) put Western in front.
The Crusaders forced extra innings, scoring a pair of runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. Pinchhitter Brianna Kinghorn got the decisive blow, singling to right to score Kristin Refsland with the tying run.
But the Vikings finally won the game with a run in the eighth. Allie Crowe (Fr., Auburn/Thomas Jefferson) had a one-out single, moved to second on a single by Jackie Rothenberger (Jr., Coquitlam, BC/Gleneagle), and to third when Allen hit into a fielder's choice, with Rothenberger forced out at second.
Allen then stole second, and the ball got away from the NNU infield, allowing Crowe to score the winning run.
Pitcher Jenna DeRosier (So., Kelso) then overcame a leadoff single to close out the Crusaders and seal the victory.
In the nightcap, the Vikings jumped to a 7-0 lead in their first two-at bats. Jessica Carey (Sr., Everett) had a leadoff single and scored in the first, then added an RBI double and eventually scored in the second.
But NNU exploded for nine runs in the bottom of the second, sending 13 batters to the plate. Baylee Jolliffe had the go-ahead blow, capping the inning with a 3-run triple.
Western nearly pulled off another seventh-inning rally. Trailing 12-8 entering the inning, the Vikings scored three runs, Allen pulling them to 12-11 with a two-out double that put runners on second and third before a ground out ended the game.
The Vikings had 17 hits in the opening game and 13 in the nightcap. Allen was 4-for-9 in the doubleheader, and Carrillo was 4-for-8. Rothenberger was also 4-for-8, going 3-for-5 in the second game.
The two teams meet in another doubleheader Saturday (12 noon).
