BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team heads into Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a 9-3 record and will travel to play Western Oregon University in a four-game series in Monmouth, Oregon.
 
The series vs. Western Oregon (3-1) will be played at WOU Softball Field doubleheaders on Saturday (1 pm first pitch) and Sunday (11 am first pitch). All games will feature a live webcast and statistical updates with links at WWUVikings.com/Live.
 
The Vikings are coming off a pair of 3-1 series victories over Central Washington and Saint Martin's in non-counting GNAC games, setting records for hitting vs. the Wildcats and pitching vs. the Saints.
 
In the four-game series in Ellensburg, Western combined to score 44 runs and 49 hits, including a school-record-tying 19 runs in a single game and 34 combined runs in a doubleheader. Against the Saints, senior pitcher Anna Kasner threw the third perfect game in WWU history and the 7^th in the 20-year history of the GNAC.
 
The 20-game GNAC schedule will be spread over the next seven weeks leading up to the conference championships that will be held May 6-8 in Monmouth, Oregon. The top four teams in the conference standings following the regular season will qualify for the championships.
 
Due to GNAC and COVID guidelines, there will be no fans permitted at any home or away event for the Vikings this season.
 
The complete 2021 WWU Softball schedule can be viewed at WWUVikings.com/Softball, with additional information on webcast and live stats links, updated bios and statistical information.
 

THIS WEEK IN WWU SOFTBALL
Saturday, March 20	Live Coverage
WWU at Western Oregon  »  1 pm & 3:30 pm  »  Monmouth, OR  »  WOU Softball Field	📊 LiveStats   🎥 Webcast
Sunday, March 21	Live Coverage
WWU at Western Oregon  »  11 am & 1:30 pm  »  Monmouth, OR  »  WOU Softball Field	📊 LiveStats   🎥 Webcast

The standout pitching career of senior Anna Kasner added another chapter as she threw the third perfect game in WWU history and the seventh perfect game in GNAC history Friday vs. Saint Martin's. Kasner accomplished the 18 up, 18 down feat in the series-opening 8-0, six-inning win over Saint Martin's. She struck out six in the victory and threw 71 pitches (49 strikes). Kasner also helped her own cause at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. The perfect game was the first by a GNAC pitcher since WWU's Sarah McEnroe threw a perfect game in a 10-0, five-inning win over Northwest Nazarene on April 10, 2009. All seven GNAC perfect games have come in games shortened by the 8-run rule. Kasner's pitching gem was also the 27^th no-hitter in 20 years of GNAC softball history. It is the second no-hitter thrown by Kasner, making her the third pitcher in Western history and the fourth in GNAC history to throw two career no-hitters. Here is a look at the 11 no-hitters and three perfect games in the 29 years of WWU Softball history:
 

No-Hitters (*Perfect Game)	Date	Opponent	Score	IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO
Alison Haukaas	3/2/96	Eastern Oregon - Game 2	9-0	7.0,0,0,0,2,11
Alison Haukaas	3/8/96	Lewis & Clark (6 inn.)	0-1	6.0,0,1,0,0,4
Sarah Diamond*	3/10/01	Seattle U. (7 inn.) - Game 2	7-0	7.0,0,0,0,0,5
Nancy Mills	3/24/01	Southern Oregon (5 inn.)	9-0	5.0,0,0,0,0,3
Kristen Kiekenapp	4/30/02	Seattle U. (5 inn.) - Game 2	11-0	5.0,0,0,0,1,4
Kristen Kiekenapp	3/13/03	Northwest Nazarene - Game 1	5-0	7.0,0,0,0,1,9
Nicole Walker	4/9/05	Northwest Nazarene (6 inn.) - Game 1	8-0	6.0,0,0,0,2,9
Sarah McEnroe*	4/10/09	Northwest Nazarene (5 inn.) - Game 2	10-0	5.0,0,0,0,0,3
Makinlee Sellevold	3/2/19	Montana State Billings (6 inn.) - Game 2	8-0	6.0,0,0,0,1,9
Anna Kasner	2/2/20	Cal State East Bay (5 inn.)	10-0	5.0,0,0,0,1,8
Anna Kasner*	3/12/21	Saint Martin's (6 inn.) - Game 1	8-0	6.0,0,0,0,0,6 (71 pitches)

WWU won three of four games in the weekend series vs. Saint Martin's in games played Friday and Saturday at Viking Field. Anna Kasner's perfect game highlighted the doubleheader split on Friday, and Megan Marino sparked a sweep on Saturday with a walk-off home run in the first game for a 3-2 victory. Junior Kira Doan added a complete-game victory in a 6-1 win to sweep the doubleheader. Here are some notable statistical performances and notes from the four-game series:

• Out-scored Saint Martin's 18-9 with a 34-17 advantage in hits.
• Pitching staff recorded a 2.07 ERA (8 ER, 27.0 IP).
• Anna Kasner went 2-0 with a 0.54 ERA (1 ER, 13.0 IP) to earn GNAC Pitcher of the Week honors.
• Megan Marino combined to go 5-for-12 (.417) with a walk-off home run and 5 RBI.
• Lauren Lo recorded a hit in 3 of 4 games before having her 9-game hitting streak snapped.

After a string of weather-related game cancelations and a few schedule changes, Western Oregon was finally able to make its season debut last week hosting Central Washington to a four-game series. The Wolves went 3-1, earning three one-run victories, including a pair of walk-off wins. Sophomore first baseman Zoie Recolan led WOU batting .500 (6-for-12) in the series with a pair of doubles. WOU used five different pitchers to combine for a 3.25 ERA (13 ER, 28.0 IP), with Nicki Derrick going 2-0 while pitching in relief in all four games.
  The Vikings lead the all-time series vs. Western Oregon 68-44 dating back to the first meeting in 1995, which includes an all-time 31-19 record in games road games vs. the Wolves. The Vikings and Wolves did not play last year due to the shortened season, with the two teams splitting the season series in 2019. Over the last 10 games, Western Oregon holds a 6-4 advantage. Here is a look at the all-time series:
    Here is a visual look at the schedule this weekend with the battle of the GNAC's Western's playing Saturday and Sunday in doubleheaders in Monmouth, Oregon.
    Senior Anna Kasner was selected as the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week for games played March 8-14. The right-hander went 2-0 with a 0.54 ERA (1 ER, 13.0 IP) and 14 strikeouts in a pair of starts vs. Saint Martin's, including throwing the seventh perfect game in GNAC history (third in WWU history). It was the seventh GNAC Player of the Week award for Kasner in her career (second this season), with six as a pitcher and one as an offensive player. She is now one short of the program record eight Player of the Week awards for Makinlee Sellevold from 2015-19 (7 pitching, 1 hitting).
    Off to a 9-3 start to the season, the Vikings continue to receive national attention. WWU received 10 votes in the March 17 edition of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) NCAA Division II Coaches Poll. The 10 votes are tied with Anderson as the top teams receiving votes just outside of the national top 25. WWU is one of only three West Region teams listed in the national rankings, with Concordia Irvine (6-3) checking in at No. 10 in the poll and GNAC foe Northwest Nazarene also receiving votes.
    Senior Anna Kasner is climbing the charts as one of the top strikeout pitchers in WWU and GNAC history. Through six starts this season (5-1, 1.72 ERA), Kasner has recorded 48 strikeouts, ranking in the top 40 in the nation with 10.2 strikeouts per 7.0 innings pitched. For her career, Kasner has tallied 446 strikeouts (in 63 appearances) to rank 2^nd in WWU and 5^th in GNAC history. The right-hander is also tops in WWU history and 2^nd in conference history averaging 8.85 K/7.0 IP. Here is a look at the WWU and GNAC all-time strikeout leaderboard:
 

WWU ALL-TIME STRIKEOUTS
1.	478	Quint, Jackie	2004-07
2.	446	Kasner, Anna	2017-18, 20-21
3.	438	Quint, Erika	2010-11
4.	389	Grant, Amanda	2000-03
5.	378	Sellevold, Makinlee	2015-17,19
6.	309	Haukaas, Alison	1996-99
7.	304	Labasan, Shearyna	2016-19
8.	284	McEnroe, Sarah	2007-10
9.	239	Walker, Nicole	2004-07
10.	234	Kiekenapp, Kristen	2000-03
GNAC ALL-TIME STRIKEOUTS
1.	511	Herman, Adrian (NNU)	2003-06
2.	478	Quint, Jackie (WWU)	2004-07
3.	477	Martin, Erin (Seattle)	2005-08
4.	470	Prescott, Lizzy (HSU)	2005-06
5.	446	Kasner, Anna (WWU)	2017-18, 20-21
6.	438	Quint, Erika (WWU)	2010-11
7.	433	Badgley, Sara (CWU)	2004-05, 07
8.	432	Vlahovich, Linse (CWU)	2006-09
9.	423	Hadenfeld, Lauren (CWU)	2010-11
10.	414	Gau, Maria (CWU)	2011-14

Junior shortstop Tatum Dow leads the regular offensive players batting .459 (17-for-37) with a pair of doubles and team-best-tying 10 RBI. Dow has recorded at least one hit in 10 of 12 games and is coming off a 4-for-11 series vs. Saint Martin's. Dating back to the end of the 2020 season, Dow is batting .500 (25-for-50) with 16 RBI over the 17-game span.
  Junior third baseman Megan Marino was the hitting hero during the series victory over Saint Martin's, batting .417 (5-for-12) with a home run and 5 RBI. Marino recorded a pair of walk-off hits, ending the series opener with a two-run single in the bottom of the 6^th inning for an 8-0 win and hit a one-out, solo home run in the 3-2 victory in Saturday's first game. Marino enters GNAC play batting .364 (12-for-33) to rank 10^th in the conference.
  Freshman pitcher Kaelynn Simmons (second-year freshman) will be making a homecoming of sorts this weekend, as she hails from Dallas, Oregon, just short drive from the Western Oregon University campus. Simmons starred for Dallas High School where she was a two-time Oregon 5A Pitcher of the Year selection, going 58-4 over the final three seasons of her prep career.
  Here are some additional notes on the Vikings heading into the series at Western Oregon:

• Swinging It – Ranks 2^nd in the GNAC and 15^th in NCAA II in team batting average (.372/125-for-336).
• Scoring at Will – Listed 2^nd in the GNAC and 24^th in NCAA II averaging 7.33 runs per game.
• On Base Machines – Recorded a team on-base percentage of .456 to rank 12^th nationally.
• Strikeouts – Anna Kasner is 37^th in NCAA II averaging 9.2 K/7.0 IP…also 41^st with 48 total strikeouts.
• Pitching Prowess – Staff ERA of 2.95 is 2^nd in the GNAC, while leading the conference with a .224 opposing batting average and 2^nd with 78 total strikeouts.
• Two Way Players – In addition to being 5-1 as a pitcher, Anna Kasner is batting .545 (12-for-22) with 7 runs scored and 4 RBI…Kira Doan is batting .462 (6-for-13) to go along with a 3-2, 3.77 pitching record.
• Player of the Week – Rylie Wales was selected as the GNAC Player of the Week for games played March 1-7…Wales batted .583 (7-for-12) with four extra-base hits in the series at CWU.
• Brooke At Bat – Brooke Fesenbek is tied for 2^nd in the GNAC with 5 doubles.
• Defense – Defense has made 12 fielding errors in 305 total chances…played error-free in 6 of 12 games…3^rd in the GNAC with a .961 team fielding percentage.
• Clutch Hitting – Batting .375 (57-for-152) with runners in scoring position and .450 (9-for-20) with the bases loaded.
• Killer Khorrami – Taylor Khorrami has appeared in four games, and is 3-for-3 at the plate with 5 runs scored.
• Brooks Bombs – Dakota Brooks leads the team and is tied for 4^th in the GNAC with 2 home runs…Brooks has hit 6 home runs in 34 career games.
• Double-Digit K's – The 15 strikeouts by Anna Kasner in the season opener vs. UPS marked her 14^th career double-digit strikeout performance and tied her single-game career high.
• Seeing Double – WWU has a pair of twins on the team, Bellingham's own Tori (#9) and Carissa (#12) McDowell…the McDowell twins played at Sehome High School and Bellevue College.

Junior center fielder Lauren Lo has recorded at least one hit in 10 of 12 games this season and is batting .457 (16-for-35) with 11 runs scored, 2 doubles, one triple and 6 RBI. Lo had a 9-game hitting streak snapped in Saturday's series finale vs. Saint Martin's. Among GNAC qualifying batters (min. 2.0 PA/game), Lo ranks 6^th in the conference in batting average, 4^th in on-base percentage (.545), tied for 4^th in runs scored, 4^th in hits and tied for 5^th with 8 walks. Dating back to last season, Lo has recorded at least one hit in 23 of her last 26 games with 10 multi-hit contests.
  Here is a look at WWU's record in several scenarios:
 

WWU WIN-LOSS RECORD SUMMARY
Overall   9-3  Conference   0-0  Non-Conference   9-3  Home games   4-2  Away games   3-1  Neutral site   2-0  Day games   8-3  Night games   1-0  vs Left starter   0-0  vs Right starter   9-3  1-Run games   2-1  2-Run games   0-0  5+Run games   6-2  Extra innings   0-0  Shutouts   2-0  Scoring 0-2 runs   0-2  ... 3-5 runs   1-1  ... 6-9 runs   5-0  ... 10+ runs   3-0  Opponent 0-2 runs   6-0  ... 3-5 runs   3-1  ... 6-9 runs   0-2  ... 10+ runs   0-0  Scored in 1st inning   7-1  Opp. scored in 1st   1-0  Scores first   9-2  Opp. scores first   0-1		After 4 leading   8-0  ... trailing   0-3  ... tied   1-0  After 5 leading   7-1  ... trailing   0-2  ... tied   0-0  After 6 leading   3-0  ... trailing   0-3  ... tied   1-0  Hit 0 home runs   6-2  ... 1 home run   2-1  ... 2+ home runs   1-0  Opponent 0 home runs   8-1  ... 1 home run   1-2  ... 2+ HRs   0-0  Made 0 errors   5-1  ... 1 error   1-1  ... 2+ errors   3-1  Opp. made 0 errors   1-2  ... 1 error   1-1  ... 2+ errors   7-0  Out-hit opponent   9-1  Out-hit by opponent   0-2  Hits are tied   0-0

  Here is a look at the 2021 GNAC Softball records heading into the first week of conference play. Simon Fraser University has opted out of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic and travel challenges:
 

SOFTBALL	CONF	PCT	OVERALL	PCT	HOME	AWAY	NEUTRAL	STREAK
Northwest Nazarene	0-0	.000	10-2	.833	10-2	0-0	0-0	Won 4
Western Washington	0-0	.000	9-3	.750	4-2	3-1	2-0	Won 2
Western Oregon	0-0	.000	3-1	.750	3-1	0-0	0-0	Won 2
Saint Martin's	0-0	.000	8-4	.667	5-1	3-3	0-0	Lost 2
Central Washington	0-0	.000	4-6	.400	3-3	1-3	0-0	Lost 2
Montana State Billings	0-0	.000	3-9	.250	3-1	0-8	0-0	Lost 6
Simon Fraser	0-0	.000	0-0	.000	0-0	0-0	0-0	—

Following Great Northwest Athletic Conference protocols, all WWU games the remainder of the 2020-21 season across all sports will be closed to fans. Only team and game management personnel will be allowed at Viking Field and will be closely monitored with social distancing and face coverings required. Despite the announcement by Washington Governor Jay Inslee last week regarding spectators at athletic events, the GNAC Management Council reaffirmed their position of no spectators through the remainder of this academic year. When the Vikings took the field March 26 vs. UPS at Bellevue College, it marked the first time in 351 days WWU had been on the diamond. They were the first games in over 11 months, last playing March 12, 2020, a GNAC doubleheader at Central Washington. WWU finished the abbreviated 22-game 2020 season with a 10-12 record, but had won four of its last six games before the season was halted.
  The 2021 WWU Softball squad features a 24-player roster, with four seniors, seven juniors, four sophomores and nine freshman. With the abbreviated 22-game schedule in 2020, student-athletes were allowed to get back a year of eligibility if they chose to. Team 29 is comprised of 12 returning starters (10 or more game started in 2020) and 17 returning letterwinners. The seven newcomers are made up of five true freshman and a pair of junior college transfers.
  The Vikings dominated in the circle in 2020, registering a GNAC-best 2.59 ERA (54 ER, 146.0 IP) to rank No. 54 in all of NCAA Division II. The next closest team ERA in the GNAC was Concordia with a 3.94 mark. WWU also led the GNAC with 152 strikeouts (CWU was 2^nd with 94) and set program record averaging 7.29 strikeouts per 7.0 IP. Anna Kasner (1.92) and Kira Doan (2.17) finished 1-2 in the GNAC in ERA.
  WWU returns its top nine leading hitters from the 2020 season, including junior first baseman Dakota Brooks (.364, 24-for-66, 12 R, 4 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 10 RBI), junior second baseman Chantelle Shimabukuro (.352, 25-for-71, 12 R, 3 2B, 3B, 9 RBI) and junior outfielder Lauren Lo (.310, 18-for-58, 2B, 8 RBI). Brooks ranked 9^th in the GNAC in batting average, while also listed 2^nd with a .667 slugging percentage and 4^th with a .455 on-base percentage. Shimabukuro was 7^th in the league with 25 hits and Lo tallied the longest hitting streak in the conference at 13 games. Senior Anna Kasner is the Vikings active career leader with 9 home runs and 49 RBI.
    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 is in its 29^th 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 10^th-most in program history, in her first campaign in 2019.