IRVINE, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team had its bats come alive in a three-run sixth inning, but Cal State Dominguez Hills pushed across the eventual game-winning run in its final at-bat for the 4-3 victory over the Vikings during the second day of the Concordia Kickoff Classic.
The Vikings three-run sixth inning was ignited by a leadoff triple by senior center fielder Jackie Lucidoand a run-scoring single by junior second baseman Chantelle Shimabukuro. Junior first basemanDakota Brooks launched a two-run home run to right-center field to give the Vikings the 3-2 lead.
Looking for its first victory of the young season, the Vikings gave up a pair of runs in the top of the 7thand had the potential game-tying run on base in the bottom of the inning, but couldn't pull even to fall to 0-3 on the season.
Junior starting pitcher Anna Kasner (0-2) recorded her second complete-game effort of the season, allowing 9 hits and 4 runs in 7.0 innings. She struck out 5 batters in the game, crossing the 300-milestone mark for her career to become the sixth pitcher in program history to reach 300 strikeouts.
Brooks, a junior college transfer out of Centralia College, has recorded a hit in all three games this season after going 2-for-3 with 2 RBI vs. the Toros. Shimabukuro, another JC transfer out of Edmonds Community College, also tabbed a multi-hit game going 2-for-3 and is 3-for-6 to begin her WWU career.
Cal State Dominguez Hills junior starting pitcher Alyssa Olague logged the complete-game victory allowing 6 hits and 3 runs in 7.0 innings. She struck out 8 and did not walk a batter to improve to 2-0 on the season. The right-hander retired the first 10 Vikings she faced before Shimabukuro tabbed a one-out single in the bottom of the 4th inning.
The top three hitters in the Toros lineup combined to go 6-for-12, with second baseman Chenoa Au and shortstop Raquel Jaime each driving in a pair of runs. Center fielder Jessica Lane was also 2-for-3 with 2 runs scored.
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Cal St. Dominguez Hills 4, WWU 3 (Feb. 1, 2020 at Irvine, CA)
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Score by Innings
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1
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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 St. Dom. Hills
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1
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0
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1
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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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4
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9
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0
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6
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(3-1)
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Western Wash.
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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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3
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0
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-
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3
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6
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1
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3
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(0-3)
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CSUDH – Olague and Bravo
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WWU – Kasner and Matthews
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Win: Olague (2-0) Save: None Loss: Kasner (0-2)
WWU Home Runs: Brooks (1)
Time of Game: 2:15 Attendance: 67
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The Vikings (0-3) are back in action tonight with a 6 pm game vs. Stanislaus State. WWU completes the season-opening Concordia Kickoff Classic on Sunday against Cal State East Bay with first pitch scheduled for 10:30 am. The game can be followed via live statistical updates at WWUVikings.com/SB_Stats.
ROAD TRIP CONTINUES TO UTAH
WWU will remain on the road following the Concordia Kickoff Classic, driving to St. George, Utah to play in the Dixie State Courtyard Classic. The Vikings will play five games in the three-day tournament that starts on Thursday, February 6 at Canyons Softball Complex.
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.
