Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | Updated Season Stats

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University softball team closed out its home schedule with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Simon Fraser on Tuesday at Viking Field, claiming game one with a 4-0 win before edging the Clan for a 3-2 victory in game two.

The Vikings improved to 26-17 overall and 15-9 in GNAC play following their fourth consecutive win, and 9th win in their last 11 games, while Simon Fraser dropped to 9-31 overall and 5-19 in GNAC action.

Junior left fielder Sarah Morrow (Enumclaw, WA) was 3-for-5 with 2 RBI and a run during the doubleheader while junior first baseman Emily Benson (West Richland, WA/Kamiakin) went 3-for-4 with 2 runs. Junior second baseman Cylie Richards (Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin) did not bat during the first game but went 2-for-2 with a tie-breaking home run in the second game while recording 2 runs and an RBI.

Junior third baseman/pitcher Makinlee Sellevold (Everett, WA/Cascade) pitched in relief during both games, totaling 6.0 scoreless innings pitched with 7 strikeouts, allowing 7 hits and 1 walk in the appearances.

The shutout in game one was the 10th of the season for the Vikings, tied for the 5th-most shutouts in a season in program history. WWU previously recorded 10 shutouts in a season during the 2003 season (school record is 14 shutouts, achieved twice in 1996 and 1999).

"Today was a big day for us, picking up two wins and keeping the momentum going late in the season," head coach Amy Suiter said. "Wins are at a premium this time of the season. I thought that Makinlee (Sellevold) was again great for us really stepping up when we needed her and Cylie (Richards) came up clutch with the home run in the second game."

After Tuesday's games, Central Washington leads the GNAC with a 19-5 conference record. The Wildcats are followed by Saint Martin's (14-8 GNAC), WWU (15-9 GNAC), Northwest Nazarene (13-11 GNAC) and Western Oregon (11-11 GNAC) in the top 5. The GNAC regular season concludes on Sunday and the top 4 teams in the standings will advance to the GNAC Championships, held May 4-6 in Lacey, Wash., at Saint Martin's.

"We have four regular season games remaining and have put ourselves in a good situation," Suiter said. "We have some tough games on the road this weekend, but we are going to go out there and continue to play our brand of ball and let the rest take care of itself."

WWU closes out the regular season on Friday and Saturday with four games at Northwest Nazarene. The Vikings will face the Crusaders in a pair of doubleheaders on April 28 (2 pm MT and 4 pm MT) and April 29 (12 pm MT and 2 pm MT).

WWU scored twice in the 4th inning and added 1 run apiece in the 5th and 6th innings while sophomore pitcher/third baseman Shearyna Labasan (Mililani, HI/Maryknoll) and Makinlee Sellevold combined to record a shutout in the 4-0 game one victory.

The Vikings put runners on third base and second base with 1 out in the 4th inning following a leadoff single from Sarah Morrow and a walk to Emily Benson. Benson never completely stopped after arriving at first base when she was walked and advanced safely to second base on the play.

Junior catcher Carlie Richards (Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin) brought home Morrow with an RBI single to left field and Benson scored later in the frame with a groundout from freshman pitcher/designated player Anna Kasner (Milton, WA/Fife).

A 2-out triple by Morrow scored Labasan in the 5th inning for a 3-0 lead and WWU upped its advantage to 4-0 in the 6th inning when freshman outfielder Jackie Lucido (San Jose, CA/Piedmont Hills) scored on a wild pitch. The 6th inning featured a pair of batters hit by pitches, a walk and a leadoff single from Benson.

The Clan turned a triple play during the 1st inning with Labasan on second base and Morrow on first base. Sellevold sent a fly ball to medium-depth right field that was caught and Labasan attempted to tag up and advance on the play. However, she fell on her way to third base, and Clan third baseman Hailey Gearey caught the throw from right field and threw to second baseman Victoria Saunders. Saunders tagged out Labasan as she returned to second base as well as Morrow who attempted to reach second base after being caught between first base and second base on the play.

Labasan started in the circle and picked up the win, improving to 10-5 with 6.0 shutout innings pitched. She struck out 3 and scattered 5 hits without allowing a walk. Sellevold allowed 1 hit and recorded 2 strikeouts in a scoreless 7th inning.

Morrow was 3-for-3 with an RBI while Labasan (1-for-3, BB, R), Benson (1-for-1, 2 BB, R) and Carlie Richards (1-for-2, RBI) each had a hit for WWU.

Tori Belton started for the Clan and dropped to 5-12 after allowing 2 runs on 4 hits with 2 walks over 4.0 innings pitched.

Cylie Richards broke a 2-2 tie with a solo home run in the bottom of the 5th inning and Makinlee Sellevold induced a groundout to end the game with 2 runners on base in the top of the 7th inning as WWU held off Simon Fraser for the 3-2 win in game two.

The Clan grabbed a 2-0 lead after scoring 1 run apiece in the 1st and 2nd innings. Taylor Lundrigan scored Taylor Gillis with an RBI single in the 1st inning after Gillis had walked and advanced into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt. Simon Fraser doubled its advantage with a 2-out rally in the 2nd inning as Gillis delivered an RBI single to left-center field following a 2-out double from Katherine Murnaghan.

WWU cut into the lead with a run in the bottom of the 2nd inning as Emily Benson led off with a double and later scored on a fielder's choice from Anna Kasner. The Vikings tied the game 2-2 in the bottom of the 3rd inning with a sacrifice fly by Sarah Morrow to score Cylie Richards, who had led off with a single before stealing second base and advancing to third base on a fly ball.

Richards sent her 2nd home run of the season to center field with 1 out in the 5th inning for the 3-2 lead before WWU stifled rally attempts from the Clan in the 6th and 7th innings.

With runners on first base and second base and 1 out in the 6th inning, the Vikings caught a runner attempting to steal before Sellevold finished the inning with a strikeout.

After 2 outs to begin the 7th inning, back-to-back singles put runners on first base and second base once again but a ground ball hit up the middle was fielded by freshman shortstop Paityn Cyr (Mount Vernon, WA), who recorded the unassisted putout at second base to secure the win.

Sellevold (4-7) picked up the win in relief of Kasner. Kasner allowed 2 runs over 2.0 innings pitched on 3 hits with 2 walks, striking out 3. Sellevold allowed 6 hits and 1 walk with 5 strikeouts over 5.0 shutout innings of relief.

Morganne Blattmann (0-2) threw all 6 innings for Simon Fraser, allowing 3 earns on 5 hits with 1 strikeout and no walks.

Benson was 2-for-3 with a run while Cylie Richards went 2-for-2 with 2 runs and an RBI.

Lundrigan was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead Simon Fraser.