Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 March 2, 2018 Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
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BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University softball team closed out its four-game series against visiting Northwest Nazarene with a doubleheader sweep Friday afternoon at Viking Field on the WWU campus for the fifth and sixth wins over the last eight games by the Vikings.
WWU earned a 4-1 win in the opener, scoring 3 runs in the bottom of the 5th, before collecting a 3-2 walk-off win in the nightcap via a 2-out RBI single from senior right fielder Carlie Richards (Kennewick, WA/Kamiakin).
The Vikings improved to 6-9 overall and 3-1 in conference play while NNU dropped to 8-13 overall and 1-3 in GNAC action.
A pair of strong starting pitching outings helped the Vikings to wins as sophomore Anna Kasner (Milton, WA/Fife) tossed a complete game in the opener allowing 1 run on 9 hits before junior Shearyna Labasan (Mililani, HI/Maryknoll) pitched another complete game, retiring the first 17 batters she faced in order and finishing the game with 2 runs allowed on 3 hits.
Richards and Labasan both went 3-for-5 over the doubleheader. Labasan had a double and 2 runs while Richards finished with 2 RBI and a run. Freshman left fielder Lauren Lo (Issaquah, WA/Skyline) was 2-for-5 with 2 runs and an RBI, including the game-winning run during the second game.
The Vikings continue GNAC play with a pair of doubleheaders on Viking Field next week, hosting Western Oregon on Saturday (3/10) and Concordia on Sunday (3/11). Both doubleheaders start at noon and will stream live via WWUVikings.com/Live .
Game 1: WWU 4, NNU 1
Box Score | Game Book Anna Kasner scattered 9 hits over 7 innings and held the Nighthawks scoreless until the final inning while a 3-run 5th inning for the Vikings proved to be the difference during a 4-1 victory in game one.
The Vikings took the lead with a run in the bottom of the 2nd inning. Sophomore center fielder Jackie Lucido (San Jose, CA/Piedmont Hills) drew a leadoff walk, moved into scoring position on an infield single by freshman first baseman Rylie Wales (Snohomish, WA) and scored on a double-steal attempt.
NNU looked to push across the tying run in the top of the 4th, but the Vikings threw out pinch-runner Madalyn Smith attempting to score from second base on a perfectly-executed relay throw from Carlie Richards in right field.
Lauren Lo drew a 1-out walk in the 5th and Shearyna Labasan reached during a sacrifice bunt attempt with a fielding error. Both runners moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by freshman catcher Erica Hardy (Henderson, NV/Coronado) and Richards was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A bases-loaded walk to sophomore center fielder Jackie Lucido scored the first run before sophomore shortstop Paityn Cyr (Mount Vernon, WA) delivered a 2-RBI single to center field for a 4-0 lead.
The Nighthawks pushed across a run in the 7th when right fielder Ivy Hommel reached on a fielder's choice after 2 hits and a stolen base earlier in the inning. With Hommel on first base and the tying run on deck, Cyr made a diving stop on a ground ball up the middle and touched second base to secure the win for the Vikings.
Kasner improved to 2-5, allowing 1 run on 9 hits with 3 strikeouts and no walks. NNU starter Jordan Adams dropped to 5-4 after earning a win over the Vikings in the series opener on Thursday, allowing 4 runs (1 earned) on 5 hits with 3 strikeouts and 3 walks over 6.0 innings on Friday.
Cyr went 2-for-3 to total 2 of the 5 hits for WWU in the game while Lucido had 2 walks.
Western Washington 4, Northwest Nazarene 1 (March 2, 2018 at Bellingham, WA)
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Northwest Nazarene.. 000 000 1 - 1 9 2 (8-12, 1-2 GNAC)
Western Washington.. 010 030 X - 4 5 0 (5-9, 2-1 GNAC)
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Northwest Nazarene - Adams and Sylvester
Western Washington - Kasner and Hardy
Win-Kasner (2-5) Loss-Adams (5-4) T-1:48
Weather: Overcast, 41 degrees
WWU grabbed a 1-0 in the bottom of the 2nd with an RBI single from Lauren Lo. A 1-out single from freshman second baseman Kira Doan (Brier, WA/Mountlake Terrace) followed by a walk to Anna Kasner set the stage for Lo. Kasner was thrown out attempting to advance to third base on the single from Lo and a groundout concluded the frame.
Labasan doubled to begin the bottom of the 5th and advanced to third base with a sacrifice bunt from Erica Hardy. Richards brought Labasan home with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.
In the circle, Labasan threw only 70 pitches in the complete-game effort as she navigated efficiently through the NNU lineup. After retiring the first 17 batters she faced in order, a 2-out rally in the bottom of the 6th tied the game.
NNU right fielder Lauren Bassett singled to right field with 2 outs in the 6th and center fielder Cassidy Fifield followed by homering to left field, bringing the Nighthawks even at 2-2. Second baseman Ivy Hommel doubled for the third consecutive NNU hit but a fly out ended the threat.
A 1-out infield single for Lo put the winning run on base for the Vikings in the 7th after Labasan had retired the Nighthawks in order during the top of the frame. Labasan singled down the right-field line to advance Lo to second base and, after a pop out on a bunt attempt, Richards delivered the game-winning hit with 2 outs.
The senior right fielder sent her game-winning single to shallow center field by lofting a fly ball just out of the reach of Fifield, who made a sliding attempt at catching the ball, and prompting an on-field celebration from the Vikings.
Richards was 3-for-3 with 2 RBI while Lo was 2-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI.
Labasan earned her fourth consecutive win to improve to 4-3, concluding the weekend with a pair of complete-game victories against NNU. She allowed 2 runs on 3 hits with 3 strikeouts and no walks on Friday. NNU starter Rae Young dropped to 1-4, allowing 3 runs on 9 hits with 4 strikeouts and 2 walks over 6.2 innings.
Western Washington 3, Northwest Nazarene 2 (March 2, 2018 at Bellingham, WA)
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Northwest Nazarene.. 000 002 0 - 2 3 0 (8-13, 1-3 GNAC)
Western Washington.. 010 010 1 - 3 9 0 (6-9, 3-1 GNAC)
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Northwest Nazarene - Young and Genuardi
Western Washington - Labasan and Hardy
Win-Labasan (4-3) Loss-Young (1-4) T-1:31 A-60
Weather: Overcast, 41 degrees
