March 4, 2016 Game 1 - Box Score | Game 2 - Box Score
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University softball team split a doubleheader against Northwest Nazarene Friday afternoon in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at Viking Field.
The Vikings rebounded from a 10-2 loss in 5 innings in the first game with an 8-0 domination in the second game, also in a 5-inning run-rule game. Senior third baseman Emma Blauser (Federal Way, WA/Todd Beamer) led off the bottom of the 5th inning with a first-pitch home run for the walk-off victory.
The Vikings are 9-7 overall and off to a 4-2 start in GNAC play. Northwest Nazarene moved to 7-9 overall and opened GNAC play 1-1.
Western continues conference play with a doubleheader tomorrow vs. NNU starting at 12 pm at Viking Field.
Northwest Nazarene 10, Western Washington 2 // GAME 1
Box Score| Game Book
The Vikings (8-7, 3-2 GNAC) committed four errors leading to 8 unearned runs in a 10-2 loss in 5 innings in the first game of a GNAC doubleheader vs. Northwest Nazarene.
The Crusaders struck first with a pair of unearned runs in the top of the 1st inning. A leadoff walk and fielding error, followed by a two-run double by Kylie Orr gave NNU the early lead without recording an out.
Western tied the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, with Lynsey Amundson (Arlington, WA) and Makinlee Sellevold (Everett, WA/Cascade) tabbing run-scoring doubles.
Orr struck again with a go-ahead three-run home run to right-center with two outs in the top of the 4th inning.
NNU put the game out of reach with a 5-run 5th inning. Three of the five runs came in to score on a two-base error by WWU right fielder Alexie Levin (Everett, WA).
Sellevold (3-3) recorded the loss allowing 5 hits and 5 runs (1 ER) in 4.0 innings.
Senior Jordan Walley (Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma) and Sellevold were each 2-for-2 at the plate with a double.
Orr finished 3-for-3 with 5 RBI and was a triple short of hitting for the cycle.
Northwest Nazarene 10, Western Washington 2 (March 04, 2016 at Bellingham, WA) - Game 1----------------------------------------------------------------------Northwest Nazarene.. 200 35 - 10 6 0 (7-7, 1-0 GNAC)Western Washington.. 020 00 - 2 7 4 (8-7, 3-2 GNAC)----------------------------------------------------------------------Northwest Nazarene - Bonsen and SylvesterWestern Washington - Sellevold, Ison (5), Labasan (5) and AmundsonWin-Bonsen (3-3) Loss-Sellevold (3-3) T-1:40HR NNU - Orr (3)
Western Washington 8, Northwest Nazarene 0 // GAME 2
Box Score| Game Book
Western rebounded from the tough loss in the first game with a dominating 8-0 win in 5 innings in the second game of the doubleheader.
Freshman starting pitcher Shearyna Labasan (Mililani, HI/Maryknoll) improved to 6-2 on the season recording a complete-game shutout allowing 1 hit with 4 strikeouts.
Sophomore first baseman Emily Benson (West Richland, WA/Kamiakin) went 3-for-3 and senior right fielder Alexie Levin was 2-for-3 with 2 RBI. Catcher Lynsey Amundson added a pair of RBI in the victory.
The Vikings scored 3 runs in the 1st inning and 4 in the 2nd inning to take a commanding 7-0 lead.
With the run rule closing in (8 runs ahead after 5 innings), senior third baseman Emma Blauser led off the bottom of the 5th inning with a first-pitch home run, her fourth of the season and 10th of her career, to cap the victory with the walk-off.
Western Washington 8, Northwest Nazarene 0 (March 04, 2016 at Bellingham, WA) - Game 2----------------------------------------------------------------------Northwest Nazarene.. 000 00 - 0 1 2 (7-8, 1-1 GNAC)Western Washington.. 340 01 - 8 10 1 (9-7, 4-2 GNAC)----------------------------------------------------------------------Northwest Nazarene - Goodwin, Arizana (2) and SylvesterWestern Washington - Labasan and AmundsonWin-Labasan (6-2) Loss-Goodwin (4-5) T-1:19 A-48HR WWU - Blauser (4)
