ST. GEORGE, Utah – The Western Washington University softball team used another sterling pitching performance from junior Anna Kasner and home runs by Kira Doan and Rachel Christensen to power past Hawai'i Hilo in a 10-0 mercy run victory Saturday afternoon at the Dixie State Courtyard Classic.
After opening the season 0-4, the Vikings have won their last three games and are 2-0 to start play at the Courtyard Classic at the Canyons Softball Complex in St. George, Utah. UHH dropped to 1-2 on the season being limited to just three hits.
Kasner won her third consecutive start, striking out seven batters in 5.0 scoreless innings to improve to 3-2 on the season. The junior right-hander has allowed only 5 hits and 2 runs (1 ER) with 30 strikeouts over her last three starts.
The Vikings tied their single-game high with 9 hits and 10 runs, scoring in each of their four at-bats to record victory in a run-rule shortened 5 innings. WWU's offensive surge included going 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position and 4-for-7 with the bases loaded. The Vikings patience at the plate resulted in six walks, with four of those free passes coming around to score.
Sophomore catcher Rachel Christensen went 2-for-2 with a walk, scored 3 runs and hit her first career home run to lead WWU's 9-hit attack. Leadoff hitter Chantelle Shimabukuro went 2-for-3 and 2 RBI to increase her team-leading batting average to .500 (10-for-20).
Junior utility player Kira Doan got the scoring started with a one-out opposite field home run in the bottom of the 1st inning. The Vikings would add a pair of runs in the 2nd inning and put the game out of reach with a 5-run 3rd frame. Senior center fielder Jackie Lucido provided the big hit in the 3rd inning with a 2-run double to center field.
UHH starting pitcher Valarie Alvarado was touched for 7 runs on 7 hits in 2.0 innings to fall to 1-1 on the season.
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WWU 10, Hawai'i Hilo 0 (Feb. 7, 2020 at St. George, UT) – 5 innings
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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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-
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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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Hawaii Hilo
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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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-
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0
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3
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0
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6
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(1-2)
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Western Washington
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1
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2
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5
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2
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x
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-
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10
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9
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1
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5
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(3-4)
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UHH – Alvarado, Gonzalez (3), Risdall (4) and Okamoto
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WWU – Kasner and Christensen
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Win: Kasner (3-2) Save: None Loss: Alvarado (1-1)
Home Runs: Doan (1), Christensen (1)
Time of Game: 1:36 Att: 75
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The Vikings (3-4) are back in action this evening playing MSU Denver at 5:30 pm MT/4:30 pm PT at the Canyons Softball Complex. The three-day tournament wraps up on Saturday with the Vikings facing St. Mary's (TX) at 12:30 pm MT/11:30 am PT and host Dixie State at 3:00 pm MT/2:00 pm PT. Games from Utah 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.
