MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Washington University softball team split its doubleheader Sunday at Western Oregon University, earning a 3-1 series victory over the Wolves in the opening weekend of Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

 

WWU had its four-game winning streak snapped – and 18.0-inning scoreless innings pitching streak – in a 5-3 loss in the opening game, but bounced back for a convincing 10-0 win in the nightcap to seal the series win.

 

Junior shortstop Tatum Dow (Issaquah, WA/Bellevue College) homered in both games, including a key 3-run home run in the second game, and junior pitcher Kira Doan (Brier, WA/Mountlake Terrace) recorded a career-high 8 strikeouts while tossing her second consecutive shutout.

 

The Vikings improved to 12-4 on the season and are 3-1 to open conference play. WWU has won 9 of its last 11 games, with four pitching shutouts over the last eight games. WWU out-scored WOU 24-5 in the four-game series.

 

"It was a total team effort again this weekend. It's been so cool to see this team own and embrace their roles and make the most of their opportunities," said WWU head coach Sheryl Gilmore. "They all have each other's backs and truly want each other to succeed. Because they have built that culture, it allows them to play free and they know at any moment anyone on this team can change the game."

 

Dow finished the doubleheader going 4-for-8 with 2 home runs and 7 RBI, and is batting .471 (24-for-51) on the season with 3 home runs and 19 RBI. 

 

Doan recorded her second shutout of the series and third consecutive pitching victory to improve to 5-2 on the season. Over her last three starts the junior is 3-0, 0.33 ERA (1 ER, 21.0 IP) with 20 strikeouts.

 

"I am so proud of our big dawgs (pitchers and catchers)," added Gilmore. "Shearyna (Labasan, WWU pitching coach) has done a phenomenal job working with our pitchers and it's awesome to see the trust they have in each other. Kira was absolutely lights out this weekend."

 

The Vikings (12-4, 3-1 GNAC) are scheduled to be off next weekend and return to GNAC play April 2-3 hosting Montana State Billings to a four-game series at Viking Field. Fans can watch all WWU Softball games throughout the season by visiting WWUVikings.com/Live for webcast and live stats links.

 

 

The Vikings held an early lead, but Western Oregon scored five runs in the middle innings and held off any late rally for a 5-3 victory in the first game. The loss snapped WWU's four-game winning streak. 

 

The Vikings recorded their first hit with two outs in the bottom of the 3^rd inning when second baseman Chantelle Shimabukuro singled through the right side of the infield. Dow followed with a no-doubt home run to left field to give WWU the early 2-0 lead.

 

WOU answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3^rd inning, snapping the Vikings 18.0 scoreless inning streak. The Wolves loaded the bases on a walk, error and bunt single to chase starter Anna Kasner from the game. Freshman reliever Sydney Brown limited the damage allowing a pair of runs on an infield single and groundout to keep the game tied 2-2.

 

Junior first baseman Dakota Brooks gave the Vikings the lead back with a double down the left field line to plate Brown, who singled to lead off the inning and moved into scoring position on a wild pitch.

 

The back-and-forth battled continued with WOU taking a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the 4^th inning on a 2-run home run to deep left field by left fielder Kirah McGlothan and a run-scoring double by leadoff hitter Bella Valdes.

 

WWU threatened with a scoring opportunity in the top of the 6^th inning after a two-out walk by Lauren Lo and pinch-hit single by Macy Tarbox. WOU relief pitcher Nicki Derrick struck out Tori McDowell with the tying run on base to end the inning.

 

The Vikings brought the tying run to the plate in the top of the 7^th inning after a leadoff single by left fielder Rylie Wales, but relief pitcher Reilly Tidwell retired all three batters she faced to record the save.

 

WOU starting pitcher Jada Young (2-0) earned the win allowing 4 hits and 3 runs in 4.0 innings. 

 

Brown (1-1) was saddled with the loss in relief, allowing 4 hits and 3 runs in 4.0 innings.

 

 

 

WWU clinched the series victory over Western Oregon with a 10-0 win in the nightcap, building a 4-0 lead through the first four innings and then adding six insurance runs in the top of the 7^th inning.

 

Junior right-hander Kira Doan recorded her third consecutive pitching victory to improve to 5-2 on the season, striking out a career-high 8 batters in the complete-game shutout. 

 

Tatum Dow hit a key 3-run home run in the top of the 4^th inning as part of a 3-for-5, 5 RBI performance at the plate.

 

The Vikings got on the board first with a single tally in the top of the 3^rd inning. Pinch-hitter Macy Tarbox delivered a two-out single to right field to score Doan from second base.

 

Dow continued her torrid stretch at the plate drilling a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence for a 3-run home run to extend the lead to 4-0.

 

With Doan in cruise control, the Vikings tacked on six more insurance runs in the top of the 7^th inning, sending 10 batters to the plate to push the lead to 10-0. Pinch hitter Tori McDowell laced a 2-run double down the left field line and Dow capped the scoring with a 2-run single to center field.

 

WOU starter Maddie Mayer (0-1) recorded the loss, as four WOU pitchers saw action in the game.

 

 

The Vikings (12-4, 3-1 GNAC) return to action in two weeks, hosting Montana State Billings in a four-game GNAC series at Viking Field April 2-3. Games vs. the Yellowjackets will both feature a noon first pitch on Friday and Saturday. 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.

SB🥎 | She's done it again! Tatum Dow with a massive 3-run home run in the top of the 4th inning to extend the @WWU_Softball lead to 4-0 over WOU.

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WWU - 4
WOU - 0 pic.twitter.com/McmEAd5C0O
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) March 21, 2021
  

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 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.