March 30, 2013

Box Score - Game 1

Box Score - Game 2

NAMPA, Idaho - Keyed by a 16-run sixth inning that helped them win the opening game, the Western Washington University softball team swept a doubleheader from Northwest Nazarene University in Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball action Saturday at NNU's Halle Field.

WWU, 16-14 overall and 6-8 in GNAC action, claimed the first game, 16-6, in six innings, then the nightcap, 8-0, in five innings. Kaleigh Keating (Jr., Salinas, CA/Nortre Dame Salinas) led the Viking offense by going 6-for-7 with four RBI and three stolen bases in the two contests.

NNU fell to 5-28 overall and 0-18 in conference play.

The Crusaders held a 6-0 lead through five innings of the opener. Michelle Crumbaker and Kayla Sevier each had a pair of RBI singles to help NNU establish the lead.

But the Vikings rallied with a 16-run inning that, save for a 1-out double by Alexie Levin (Fr., Everett) to start the charge, came entirely with two outs. Keating scored Levin with a triple, Kristen Allen (Sr., Arlington) and Matti Tezlaff (So., Mill Creek/Jackson) followed up with RBI doubles, and the rally exploded from there.

By the end, aided by six Crusader errors and a wild pitch, WWU sent a total of 20 batters to the plate, scoring their runs on 10 hits. Allen drove in three runs in the inning, as she added a two-run double to make the score 10-6.

Anisa Wingsness (Fr., North Bend/Mount Si) (5-5) pitched 2-2/3 innings of scoreless relief to get the victory for Western.

No comeback was needed in the second game, as the Vikings scored four runs in both the second and fifth innings. Keating had RBI singles in each rally, and Melissa Becker (Sr., Puyallup/Graham-Kapowsin) capped the scoring in the fifth by stealing home on a double steal.

Levin and Lauren Bennett (Fr., Tustin, CA/Beckman) combined on a one-hit shutout in the nightcap, Levin going four innings to improve to 5-5. Sevier had the only NNU hit, a one-out single in the second.

Allen was 4-for-7 with with two doubles, a triple and 3 RBI on the day, and Camille Depew (Sr., Seatle/Seattle Lutheran) was 4-for-8 with three RBI.

WWU plays next against Sonoma State on Thurs., April 4 (2 p.m.), then competes in the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, beginning Friday.