IRVINE, Calif. – Hits and runs were at a premium for the Western Washington University softball team during the opening day of the 2020 season against tough competition at the Concordia Kickoff Classic.

WWU dropped to 0-2 on the season with a 6-2 loss to No. 20 nationally-ranked Chico State Friday night at Great Park. The Vikings dropped the first game of the day to Cal State San Marcos 6-1, and were limited to 5 hits and 3 runs in the two games of the season. 

In Friday's nightcap, WWU got off to a great start going up on 1-0 after the top of the 1^st inning vs. the Wildcats. Junior first baseman Dakota Brooks tabbed a run-scoring single to bring home second baseman Chantelle Shimabukuro with the go-ahead run. 

Chico State answered with single tallies off junior starting pitcher Anna Kasner in each of the first four innings to build a 4-1 lead, and scored a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the 6^th inning.

WWU scored a run in the 7^th inning when senior center fielder Jackie Lucido singled, stole second base and crossed home plate on a fielding error by the pitcher.

Kasner (0-1) was saddled with the complete-game loss allowing 7 hits and 6 runs (4 ER) in 6.0 innings. She recorded 8 strikeouts and is now two short of becoming the seventh pitcher in program history with 300 career strikeouts. 

Chico State senior starting pitcher Sam Mulock (1-0) recorded the win allowing one hit and one run in 6.0 innings, striking out 5 and walking 5. Right fielder Karter Williams went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks, 3 runs scored and a triple out of the leadoff spot in the lineup to spark the Wildcats 7-hit attack.

The Vikings (0-2) return to action on Saturday with a pair of games at the Concordia Kickoff Classic, taking on Cal State Dominguez Hills (12 pm) and Stanislaus State (6 pm). The season-opening tournament concludes Sunday against Cal State East Bay (10:30 am) on Sunday. All games can be followed via live statistical updates at WWUVikings.com/SB_Stats.

Up-to-date season information, including season statistics, bios, roster, schedule and historical information can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/Softball. WWU Softball also has a strong social media presence on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, so give them a follow!

The WWU softball program enters the 28^th season in program history, with the Vikings posting a winning record in 17 seasons. WWU won the 1998 NAIA National Championship to record the school's first ever team national title and has made four trips to the NCAA Division II Regional Championships, last in 2017. Over the last six seasons (since 2014), the Vikings are 162-122 (.555) and won the 2017 GNAC Tournament to advance to the NCAA II West Regional in Monterey, California. Head coach Sheryl Gilmore is in her second season at the helm of the program in 2019, leading WWU to 27 wins, tied for the 10^th-most in program history, in her first campaign in 2019.