March 5, 2016 Box Score - Game 1 | Box Score - Game 2
BELLINGHAM, Wash. - For the second consecutive day the Western Washington University softball team dropped the first game (3-1) of a doubleheader against Northwest Nazarene but rebounded with a win in the second game (6-2) to earn a split in Great Northwest Athletic Conference action Saturday afternoon at Viking Field.
With the split the Vikings improved to 10-8 overall and 5-3 in GNAC play. NNU moves to 8-9 overall and starts conference play with a 2-2 record.
Western out-hit the Crusaders 18-9 on the day, but couldn't put together a substantial rally falling 3-1 in the first game. WWU stormed past the Crusaders in the second game with 12 hits and combined to go 7-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
Senior Jordan Walley (Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma) went 3-for-6 in the doubleheader with a pair of doubles and 3 RBI. Junior catcher Lynsey Amundson (Arlington, WA) continues her rise at the plate combining to go 3-for-5 and is batting .500 (12-for-24) with 9 RBI over her last 8 games (all conference games). Senior Alexie Levin (Everett, WA) also tabbed a three-hit day going 3-for-7 with 3 runs scored and a double.
In the circle the Vikings received a complete-game effort in each half of the doubleheader. Freshman Shearyna Labasan (Mililani, HI/Maryknoll) allowed 4 runs and 2 hits in the second game to improve to 7-2, 3.69 ERA on the season. In the series vs. NNU she went 2-0 in 3 appearances (2 starts) allowing just 6 hits and 4 runs (2 ER) with 8 strikeouts in 12.2 innings.
The Vikings return to action next weekend with road doubleheaders at Saint Martin's (Saturday, 12 & 2 pm) and Central Washington (Sunday, 12 & 2 pm).
Northwest Nazarene 3, Western Washington 1 // GAME 1
Box Score| Game Book 
The Western Washington University softball team dropped the first game of a doubleheader against Northwest Nazarene Saturday afternoon in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play at Viking Field.
The Vikings comeback effort fell short after trailing 3-0 after the 3rd inning. WWU did not allow another NNU run, but couldn't rally to drop the first game of the doubleheader vs. the Crusaders for the second consecutive day.
Northwest Nazarene opened the scoring with three runs in the 3rd inning, with first baseman Kylie Orr providing the big hit with a two-run double to left-center field. Orr ended up going 4-for-7 with 6 walks, 2 doubles, 1 home run and 7 RBI in the four-game series vs. the Vikings.
The Vikings did not go down without a fight, loading the bases with two outs in the sixth inning, but managed to plate one run when Walley tabbed an RBI single up the middle.
Sophomore starting pitcher Makinlee Sellevold (Everett, WA/Cascade) went the distance for the Vikings, recording 8 strikeouts in a losing effort to fall to 3-4 on the season.
Brooke Bonsen (4-3) recorded the win for the Crusaders allowing 3 hits in 6.0 scoreless innings, her second win of the weekend vs. the Vikings.
Northwest Nazarene 3, Western Washington 1 (Mar 05, 2016 at Bellingham, WA) - Game 1----------------------------------------------------------------------Northwest Nazarene.. 003 000 0 - 3 5 0 (8-8, 2-1 GNAC)Western Washington.. 000 001 0 - 1 6 0 (9-8, 4-3 GNAC)----------------------------------------------------------------------Northwest Nazarene - Bonsen, Goodwin(7) and SylvesterWestern Washington - Sellevold and AmundsonWin-Bonsen(4-3) Loss-Sellevold (3-4) T-1:56Weather: Sunny, 55 degrees
Western Washington 6, Northwest Nazarene 2 // GAME 2
Box Score| Game Book
The Vikings put the tough Game 1 loss behind them to record a solid 6-2 win in the second game to earn the doubleheader split.
WWU recorded reached double-digits in hits for the third time this season, tallying 12 hits, including a season single-game high with 6 extra-base hits (all doubles), falling one double short of matching the school record (7, 3/5/11 vs. Saint Martin's).
Walley went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles and 2 RBI to lead the offensive charge. Levin went 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored while recording her team-leading 9th multi-hit game of the season.
Labasan recorded her fourth complete game of the season, allowing 4 hits and 2 runs, to move her season record to 7-2.
The Vikings trailed 1-0 after NNU scored a single tally in the 1st inning, but pulled even in the 2nd inning. Walley drilled a one-out double to left-center, Amundson moved pinch-runner McKenna Mathis (Mesa, WA/Connell) to third on a single and Emma Blauser (Sr., Federal Way, WA/Todd Beamer) lifted a game-tying sac fly to center field.
Western took the lead for good with a three-run 3rd inning. Junior Kali Patterson (2B, Bonney Lake, WA) led off with a double down the left field line and scored the go-ahead run on a single to left field by sophomore Emily Benson (1B, West Richland, WA/Kamiakin). Walley provided some insurance with a 2-run double to center field to extend the lead to 4-1.
Western Washington 6, Northwest Nazarene 2 (Mar 05, 2016 at Bellingham, WA) - Game 2----------------------------------------------------------------------Northwest Nazarene.. 100 010 0 - 2 4 2 (8-9, 2-2 GNAC)Western Washington.. 013 110 X - 6 12 2 (10-8, 5-3 GNAC)----------------------------------------------------------------------Northwest Nazarene - Arizana, Goodwin (3), Watkins (5) and SmithWestern Washington - Labasan and Amundson, Clark (4)Win-Labasan (7-2) Loss-Arizana (0-1) T-1:44 A-127Weather: Sunny, 63 degrees
