BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team swept its doubleheader Saturday vs. Saint Martin's by scores of 3-2 and 6-2 to secure a series victory over the Saints.
The Vikings improve to 9-3 on the season and won three of four games vs. Saint Martin's to win the non-conference series. WWU defeated the Saints 3-2 in the first game on a walk-off home run by junior third baseman Megan Marino and received a complete-game pitching gem from junior Kira Doan in a 6-1 victory in the nightcap.
WWU (9-3) will enter the official 20-game Great Northwest Athletic Conference season next weekend with a four-game series on the road against Western Oregon.
Junior third baseman Megan Marino hit a one-out, walk-off home run in the bottom of the 7th inning to give the Vikings a 3-2 victory in the opening game of the doubleheader.
WWU and Saint Martin's were tied 2-2 heading into the final innings, with each defense turning a key double play to keep the go-ahead run off the scoreboard.
With one out, Marino lifted a 1-0 pitch over the fence in left-center field for her first home run of the season.
Senior starting pitcher Anna Kasner followed her perfect game with the complete-game victory. Kasner allowed two runs (1 ER) and struck out eight batters to improve to 5-1 on the season.
Sophomore designated player Brooke Fesenbek went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and junior center fielder Lauren Lo went 1-for-3 to extend her hitting streak to nine consecutive games.
Saints starting pitcher Savannah Owen (1-2) was saddled with the loss allowing three runs (2 ER) and seven hits in 6.1 innings. SMU spaced its six hits among six different players.
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WWU 3, SMU 2 (March 13, 2021 at Bellingham, WA) – Game 1
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Score by Innings
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1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
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6
|
7
|
-
|
R
|
H
|
E
|
LOB
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Record
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Saint Martin's
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0
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0
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0
|
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
-
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2
|
6
|
1
|
8
|
8-3
|
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Western Washington
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0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
-
|
3
|
7
|
2
|
7
|
8-3
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SMU – Owen and Lucas
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WWU – Kasner and Hardy
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Win: Kasner (5-1) Save: None Loss: Owen (1-2)
WWU HR: Marino (1) SMU HR: None
Time of Game: 2:07
Note: Walk-off home run by WWU Megan Marino
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Junior starting pitcher Kira Doan scattered five hits and one run in a complete-game gem, helping lead the Vikings to a 6-1 victory to secure the Saturday sweep of the Saints.
Doan picked up the win to improve to 3-2 on the season, and also helped her own cause going 3-for-3 at the plate with a run scored.
Junior first baseman Dakota Brooks added a solo home run, her second longball of the season, and freshman right fielder Taylor Khorrami went 2-for-2 with a walk and pair of RBI.
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WWU 6, SMU 1 (March 13, 2021 at Bellingham, WA) – Game 2
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Score by Innings
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
-
|
R
|
H
|
E
|
LOB
|
Record
|
|
Saint Martin's
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0
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0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
1
|
5
|
2
|
7
|
8-4
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|
Western Washington
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0
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4
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1
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0
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1
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0
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x
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-
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6
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10
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2
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8
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9-3
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SMU – Runyon, Carlos (5) and Lucas, Connolly (6)
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WWU – Doan and Hardy
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Win: Doan (3-2) Save: None Loss: Runyon (4-2)
WWU HR: Brooks (2) SMU HR: Conerly (1)
Time of Game: 2:09 Att: No attendance recorded
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The Vikings (9-3) officially open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play next weekend with a four-game series at Western Oregon in Monmouth. The Vikings and Wolves will play doubleheaders Saturday (12 pm) and Sunday (11 am) on WOU Softball Field. With no fans allowed due to GNAC and COVID protocols, fans can follow the action online with a direct link available for your computers and devices at WWUVikings.com/SB_Watch.
All home games hosted by WWU will feature a live webcast with sports information student assistant Ben Bagley calling the action live from Viking Field. The games will stream exclusively via VikingsTV on YouTube.
Senior Anna Kasner recorded eight strikeouts in her game one victory, gaining sole possession of 2ndplace in WWU history with 446 career strikeouts, passing Erika Quint (2010-11). Kasner is now all alone in 5th place in career strikeouts in the 20-year history of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference. In six starts this season, Kasner has recorded 48 strikeouts (9.16 K/7.0 IP). Here is a look at where Kasner ranks in both WWU and GNAC history for strikeouts:
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WWU ALL-TIME STRIKEOUTS
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1.
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478
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Quint, Jackie
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2004-07
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2.
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446
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Kasner, Anna
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2017-18, 20-21
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3.
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438
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Quint, Erika
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2010-11
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4.
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389
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Grant, Amanda
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2000-03
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5.
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378
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Sellevold, Makinlee
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2015-17,19
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6.
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309
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Haukaas, Alison
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1996-99
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7.
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304
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Labasan, Shearyna
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2016-19
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8.
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284
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McEnroe, Sarah
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2007-10
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9.
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239
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Walker, Nicole
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2004-07
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10.
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234
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Kiekenapp, Kristen
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2000-03
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GNAC ALL-TIME STRIKEOUTS
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1.
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511
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Herman, Adrian (NNU)
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2003-06
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2.
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478
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Quint, Jackie (WWU)
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2004-07
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3.
|
477
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Martin, Erin (Seattle)
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2005-08
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4.
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470
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Prescott, Lizzy (HSU)
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2005-06
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5.
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446
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Kasner, Anna (WWU)
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2017-18, 20-21
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6.
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438
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Quint, Erika (WWU)
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2010-11
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7.
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433
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Badgley, Sara (CWU)
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2004-05, 07
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8.
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432
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Vlahovich, Linse (CWU)
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2006-09
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9.
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423
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Hadenfeld, Lauren (CWU)
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2010-11
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10.
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414
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Gau, Maria (CWU)
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2011-14
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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 its 29th season in 2021, with the Vikings posting a winning record 17 times. WWU won the 1998 NAIA National Championship in only its sixth season 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 172-134 and won the 2017 GNAC Tournament to advance to the NCAA II West Regional in Monterey, California. Head coach Sheryl Gilmore is in her third season at the helm of the program in 2020 after leading WWU to 27 wins, tied for the 10th-most in program history, in her first campaign in 2019.
