Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University softball team split a doubleheader with visiting Montana State Billings for the second consecutive day on Sunday at Viking Field, blanking the Yellowjackets, 5-0, in game one before dropping the second game, 7-4.

Freshman starting pitcher Anna Kasner (Milton, WA/Fife) threw a 3-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts and WWU built a 5-0 lead after three innings in game one before MSU Billings grabbed a 4-run lead after three innings in the second game and held off a late surge from the Vikings.

WWU (9-5, 2-2 GNAC) took the second and third games of the series, recording shutouts in both wins. MSU Billings is 6-11 overall and 2-2 in conference play following the conference-opening series split.

Freshman shortstop Paityn Cyr (Mount Vernon, WA) went 3-for-7 with 3 RBI and a run on Sunday. Senior second baseman Kali Patterson (Bonney Lake, WA) was 2-for-5 with a run and 2 walks.

Junior first baseman Emily Benson (West Richland, WA/Kamiakin) had a hit in each game, and has recorded at least one hit in each of WWU's 14 games during 2017.

Kasner, who threw consecutive shutouts in the series against MSU Billings, allowed only 4 hits over 12.0 innings pitched during the weekend with 23 strikeouts. She has recorded a double-digit strikeout total in 4 of 7 starts in the circle during the season.

The Vikings travel to Oregon next weekend to continue the conference schedule, facing Concordia in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 11, before heading to Western Oregon for a doubleheader on Sunday, March 12.

Starting pitcher Anna Kasner threw a complete game shutout for the second consecutive start and came within one strikeout of tying her career-high single-game total while early offense from WWU set the tone. The Vikings scored two runs apiece in the 1st and 2nd innings before adding another in the 3rd en route to the win.

A two-out rally started the scoring, as junior third baseman Makinlee Sellevold (Everett, WA/Cascade) singled with two outs in the bottom of the 1st inning before scoring with an RBI single from Emily Benson, who advanced around to third base on the play with an errant throw from the outfield. Paityn Cyr scored Benson with an infield single to double the lead.

Freshman center fielder Jackie Lucido (San Jose, CA/Piedmont Hills) delivered a 2-RBI double to center field in the 2nd inning, scoring Kali Patterson and senior catcher Mackenzie Hughes (Ellensburg, WA). Patterson had led off the inning with an infield single before Hughes was hit by a pitch.

Hughes scored Cyr with an RBI infield single in the 3rd inning to extend the lead to 5-0 after Cyr had reached with an infield single earlier in the frame.

The first seven outs of the game recorded by Kasner were strikeouts. After allowing a one-out single in the 1st inning, she retired nine of the next 10 batters she faced and did not face more than four batters in an inning during all but the 6th inning.

A single, a walk and a defensive miscue loaded the bases for the `Jackets in the 6th inning but Kasner halted the potential rally with her 11th strikeout before inducing a groundout to end the threat.

Kasner improved to 4-2 with the win, posting her third shutout of the season. She allowed just 3 hits and 3 walks with 12 strikeouts.

Cyr finished 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI while Patterson went 2-for-3 as well with a run. Hughes was 1-for-2 with a run and an RBI while Lucido was 1-for-3 with 2 RBI.

Heather Tracy went 2-for-3 to lead MSU Billings. Maddy Lincoln (4-5) took the loss for the `Jackets, allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on 8 hits with 3 walks.

Western Washington 5, MSU Billings 0 (Mar 05, 2017 at Bellingham, WA) (Game 1)----------------------------------------------------------------------MSU Billings........ 000 000 0 -  0  3  2      (5-11, 1-2)Western Washington.. 221 000 X -  5  8  1      (9-4, 2-1)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: MSU Billings - Lincoln,Maddy and Kelly,Madison. Western Washington - Kasner,Anna andHughes,Mackenzie.Win-Kasner,Anna(4-2)  Loss-Lincoln,Maddy(4-5)  T-1:58  A-0

The Vikings scored 3 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning and loaded the bases twice in the frame in attempt to come back from a 7-1 deficit, but the rally fell short as the teams split for a second day in a row.

The 'Jackets led 4-0 after three innings, scoring 3 times in the 3rd inning. MSU Billings used 3 hits and a walk to generate offense during the 3rd, highlighted by an RBI double from Megan Dettling and a 2-RBI double from Cameron Cassinelli in consecutive at-bats.

MSU Billings upped its lead to 6-0 in the 5th inning with 3 hits in the inning and also took advantage of a WWU error. Dettling and Cassinelli again drove in the runs, with Dettling delivering a sacrifice fly and Cassinelli adding an RBI single.

The Vikings erased the shutout in the bottom of the 5th inning as junior catcher Carlie Richards (Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin) led off with a single and scored with an RBI double down the right-field line from sophomore center fielder McKenna Mathis (Mesa, WA/Connell).

After the `Jackets added another run in the 7th, WWU rallied in the bottom of the inning by loading the bases after Richards was hit by a pitch and sophomore pitcher Shearyna Labasan (Mililani, HI/Maryknoll) and freshman right fielder Mackenzie Palmer (Federal Way, WA/Todd Beamer) followed with one-out singles. Emily Benson scored Richards with a two-out, bases-loaded single and Paityn Cyr followed with a bases-loaded 2-RBI single before a pop out ended the game.

Dettling (2-5) picked up the win, allowing 4 runs on 9 hits in the complete-game effort with 5 strikeouts and 3 walks.

Labasan (3-1) suffered her first loss of the year, allowing 7 runs (6 earned) on 12 hits over 7.0 innings. She struck out 3 and walked 2.

Mathis went 2-for-3 with an RBI while Palmer was also 2-for-3 with a run and a walk. Cyr was 1-for-4 with 2 RBI.

Heather Tracy finished 3-for-4 with 2 runs and an RBI while Dettling went 1-for-3 with 2 RBI and a run. Cassinelli was 3-for-4 with 3 RBI and a run.

MSU Billings 7, Western Washington 4 (Mar 05, 2017 at Bellingham, WA) (Game 2)----------------------------------------------------------------------MSU Billings........ 103 020 1 -  7 12  0      (6-11, 2-2)Western Washington.. 000 010 3 -  4  9  1      (9-5, 2-2)----------------------------------------------------------------------Pitchers: MSU Billings - Dettling,Megan and Kelly,Madison. Western Washington - Labasan,Shearynaand Richards,Carlie.Win-Dettling,Megan(2-5)  Loss-Labasan,Shearyna(3-1)  T-2:00  A-80