IRVINE, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team opened the 2020 season with a 6-1 loss to Cal State San Marcos on Friday afternoon during the opening day of the Concordia Kickoff Classic at Great Park.
The Vikings were held hitless by CSUSM freshman starting pitcher Zoe Ballen for the first six innings, but junior first baseman Dakota Brooks erased the no-hit bid with a single to lead off the bottom of the 7th inning.
WWU recorded three hits in the bottom of the 7th inning, with junior Chantelle Shimabukuro delivering a pinch-hit run-scoring single to wipe out the shutout bid. The Vikings loaded the bases in the 7th inning to put the potential tying run on-deck, but designated player Anna Kasner flew out to right field to end the game.
Ballen (1-0) recorded the win for the Cougars in her collegiate debut, allowing 3 hits and recording 5 strikeouts in the complete-game effort.
San Marcos broke open a scoreless game with four runs in the top 3rd inning, with a pair of WWU errors proving costly in the big inning. The Cougars added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the 7thinning on a 2-run triple by catcher Andrea Wood. CSUSM spread out its hit total with eight different players tabbing a hit, with Wood recording three RBI in the game.
WWU freshman pitcher Kaelynn Simmons was touched for 5 hits and 4 runs (3 ER) in 3.0 innings making her collegiate debut. Junior Kira Doan was solid in relief allowing 3 hits and 2 runs in 4.0 innings.
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Cal State San Marcos 6, WWU 1 (Jan. 31, 2020 at Irvine, CA)
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Score by Innings
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1
|
2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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-
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R
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H
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E
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LOB
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Record
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Cal State San Marcos
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0
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0
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4
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0
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0
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0
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2
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-
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6
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8
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1
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5
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(1-0)
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Western Washington
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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1
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-
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1
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3
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2
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6
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(0-1)
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CSUSM – Ballen and Wood
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WWU – Simmons, Doan (4) and Christensen
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Win: Ballen (1-0) Save: None Loss: Simmons (0-1)
Home Runs: None
Time of Game: 1:58 Attendance: 75
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Notes: 2020 Season Opener
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The Vikings (0-1) return to action later tonight with a 6 pm game vs. No. 20 nationally-ranked Chico State. WWU will play five total games in the Concordia Kickoff Classic, taking on Cal State Dominguez Hills (12 pm) and Stanislaus State (6 pm) tomorrow and 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 28th 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 10th-most in program history, in her first campaign in 2019.
