Box Score

LAS VEGAS - The Western Washington University softball team opened the 2018 season with a pair of losses in the 9^th Annual Desert Stinger Tournament at Majestic Park.

The Vikings had their comeback fall short in a 5-3 loss to Stanislaus State in the first game of the day, and then couldn't hold on to a late lead in an 8-4 extra-inning loss to Colorado Christian.

Western returns to action Saturday with two more games in the Desert Stinger facing Sonoma State at 4:30 pm (Field 7) and nationally-ranked No. 21 Chico State at 7 pm (Field 12). Both games can be followed via Live Stats at GNAC.tv.

Stanislaus State 5, WWU 3 Box Score | Game Book

The Vikings scored two runs in the top of the 7th inning and brought the tying run to the plate, but couldn't complete the comeback in a season-opening 5-3 loss against Stanislaus State.

WWU trailed 5-1 with two outs and no runners on base in its final at-bat before staging the late comeback. Junior third baseman Shearyna Labasan walked and freshman catcher Erica Hardy singled up the middle. A wild pitch moved both runners up 90 feet, and sophomore center fielder Jackie Lucido plated both runs with a single to center field. A fielding error on the play moved Lucido into scoring position, but freshman first baseman Rylie Wales struck out on an 8-pitch at-bat to end the game.

Sophomore starting pitcher Anna Kasner (0-1) suffered the loss in the circle allowing 10 hits and 5 runs in the complete-game effort. Kasner struck out four and walked two in her season debut.

WWU was out-hit by the Warriors 10-5, with each of the first five Vikings in the batting order recording a hit. Sophomore shortstop Paityn Cyr went 1-for-3 with a home run and Labasan was 1-for-3 with a double.

Stanislaus, coached by former WWU assistant Jessica Ventoza, was led by a 3-for-4 performance by leadoff hitter Alexus Martinz and a 2-for-4, 2 RBI game by designated player Ruby Quiralte.

The Warriors opened the scoring with run in the bottom of the 1^st inning when three of the first four batters of the game recorded a hit. Quiralte drove home the early run with a double to center field.

Cyr leveled the score leading off the top of the 2^nd inning when she drove a full-count pitch over the left-center field fence for her sixth career home run.

The game remained knotted at 1-1 until the bottom of the fourth inning when Stanislaus broke the tie on a run-scoring single by third baseman Maya Yoshiura. Kasner limited the damage stranding a pair of runners in scoring position to keep it a one-run game.

WWU had a chance to pull even in the top of the 6^th inning after Stanislaus starting pitcher Megan Stacey was removed from the game. The Vikings put runners on second and third with no outs, but relief pitcher Mackenzie Dekay got three quick outs to escape the jam. The Warriors then added to their lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to cushion the lead to 5-1.

Stacy (1-0) recorded the win allowing 2 hits and 1 run in 5.0 innings, and Dekay recorded her first save of the season.

Colorado Christian 8, WWU 4 (8 innings) Box Score | Game Book

The Vikings allowed four runs in the top of the 8^th inning to finish the first day of the 2018 season with an 8-4 extra-inning defeat against Colorado Christian.

WWU led 3-0 after three innings and carried a 4-2 lead into the 6^th inning, but couldn't hold on for the first win of the season.

CCU scored a single tally in the 4^th, 5^th, 6^th and 7^th innings, and with the international tie-breaker rule in effect placing a runner on second base to start the 8^th inning, exploded for four runs. Catcher Shelby Fusich put the finishing touch on her 4-for-5 performance with a three-run triple down the right field line for the big blow in the inning.

The Vikings build their lead with a three-run 3^rd inning. Sophomore shortstop Paityn Cyr tabbed a one-out run-scoring single up the middle and sophomore designated player Anna Kasner added to the lead with a 2-run home run to left-center field.

CCU cut the lead to 3-2 with a Fusich RBI single in the 5^th inning, but the Vikings retook a two-run lead at 4-2 when freshman second baseman Kira Doan drew a bases loaded walk in the bottom half of the inning.

Shortstop Kacie Burger pulled the Cougars to within one run with a two-out solo home run in the 6^th inning, and CCU tied the game at 4-4 on a sacrifice fly by right fielder Alyssa Hanks in the top of the 7^th inning.

Burger plated the go-ahead run in the deciding 8^th inning with a one-out single through the right side of the infield, and Fusich followed with her bases-clearing triple to put the game out of reach.

WWU sophomore starting pitcher Shearyna Labasan (0-1) suffered the loss allowing 15 hits and 8 runs (7 ER) in the complete-game effort. She also went 2-for-4 with a walk at the plate.

Kasner also recorded a multi-hit game going 2-for-4 while hitting her fourth career home run.

Kenzie Mattey (2-0) kept the Cougars undefeated at 2-0 allowing one baserunner in 1.1 innings of scoreless relief.