Box Score

TURLOCK, Calif. - Saving its best pitcher for tournament play this weekend, Western Washington University was no match for nationally ranked Sonoma State University, falling 14-2, in a game that lasted just five innings because of the eight-run mercy rule on Thursday, March 26, at Warrior Field.

WWU fell to 14-11 and Sonoma State, ranked No.21 in this week's National Fastpitch Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, improved to 23-7.

Sonoma State, helped by three Viking throwing errors, scored eight runs in the top of the second. The Seawolves, who finished with 13 hits off three WWU pitchers, got five more in the third and two in the fifth.

WWU's runs came in the bottom of the second when Alexie Levin (Jr., Everett) reached base on catcher's interference and scored on a double by Emily Benson (West Richland/Kamiakin) and in the fifth when Emma Blauser (Jr., Federal Way/Todd Beamer) led off with an infield single, advanced to third on a double by Kali Patterson (So., Bonney Lake) and scored on a sacrifice fly by Alicia Fine (Sr., Mount Vernon).

Patterson had two of the Vikings' five hits.

Ancia Purdy, Keeley Ray and Aubrie Tolliver each had two hits for Sonoma State. Toliver drove in three runs, two on a double in the fifth, and scored one; Ray scored three and Purdy scored two and drove in one.

WWU competes in the Cal State Stanislaus Tournament of Champions on Friday thru Sunday, March 27-29.

On Friday, the Vikings play Cal State Dominguez Hills at 8 a.m., Humboldt State at 10 a.m. and Cal State East Bay at 2:15 p.m. On Saturday, they complete pool play against UC San Diego at 10 a.m. and San Francisco State at 12:15 p.m., followed by bracket action Sunday.

Last year, WWU reached the Gold Bracket semifinals, winning five of six games.