BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team received a pair of pitching gems from senior Anna Kasner and junior Kira Doan in a Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader split with rival Central Washington on Saturday at Viking Field.

 

Kasner fired an 11-strikeout, 1-hitter in the tough-luck 2-1 loss in the opening game, and Doan led the Vikings to a 4-0 second-game victory with a complete-game 3-hitter to record the doubleheader split.

 

WWU improved to 19-11 overall, and at 10-8 in GNAC play, clinched a berth in the conference championships that will be played May 6-8 in Monmouth, Oregon. CWU also clinched one of the four sports in the GNAC Championships at 16-13 overall and 8-6 in conference play.

 

Kasner and Doan combined to allow just four hits and two runs in Saturday's doubleheader, with 17 strikeouts. The 11 strikeouts by Kasner marked her 16^th career double-digit strikeout performance and moved her four strikeouts short of the all-time GNAC record. Kasner has tallied 508 career strikeouts in four seasons at WWU and heads into Sunday's regular-season finale looking to break the all-time GNAC mark of 511 strikeouts held by Northwest Nazarene's Adrian Herman (2003-06).

 

WWU junior center fielder Lauren Lo recorded a pair of multi-hit games, combining to go 4-for-6 in the doubleheader. Junior shortstop Tatum Dow went 2-for-6 with a double and two runs scored and junior second baseman Chantelle Shimabukuro was 2-for-6 with one RBI.

 

WWU and CWU close out the regular season Sunday with a doubleheader starting at noon. It will be Senior Day at Viking Field with WWU seniors Anna Kasner, Erica Hardy, Mackenzie Palmer and Hannah Matthews honored during the day. Both games will stream live online at WWUVikings.com/SB_Watch.

 

 

Anna Kasner threw a complete-game 1-hitter with 11 strikeouts, but that one hit resulted in a pair of runs for Central Washington in the 2-1 first-game victory.

 

Kasner crossed the 500-strikeout mark for her career with her 16^th collegiate start with double-digits in strikeouts, but a two-out, two-run double in the top of the 6^th inning by CWU right fielder Theresa Moyle just past the outstretched arms of WWU shortstop Tatum Dow was the difference maker.

 

The Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 5^th inning on a two-out RBI single by Chantelle Shimabukuro.

 

Kasner was saddled with the tough-luck loss to fall to 9-3 on the season, despite her complete-game 1-hitter. She walked four batters and only one of two runs allowed were earned due to a passed ball. The senior now has 508 career strikeouts, four short of breaking the all-time GNAC record. 

 

CWU starting pitcher Samantha Stanfield matched Kasner in the pitcher's duel, scattering five hits and one run in the complete-game victory. She struck out three batters and did not issue a walk to improve to 5-4 on the season.

 

 

 

WWU junior starting pitcher Kira Doan tossed a complete-game, three-hit shutout as the Vikings earned the doubleheader split with a 4-0 victory over the Wildcats.

 

The win also clinched one of the four sports in the GNAC Championships, assuring the Vikings of at least a .500 record in conference play. 

 

Western broke the scoreless tie with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3^rd inning. Junior center fielder Lauren Lo plated the go-ahead run with a single up the middle to score Tatum Dow, who led off the inning with a double. Dakota Brooks added a run-scoring single to stake the Vikings to a 2-0 lead.

 

With Doan in cruise control, WWU added a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the 5^th inning to put the game out of reach. Lo added another RBI single and Doan helped her own cause with a bases loaded walk.

 

Doan improved to 8-6 on the season scattering three hits (all singles), while recording six strikeouts. 

 

Lo went 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored and RBI, and Dow continued her hot hitting going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. 

 

CWU starter Lexie Strasser (1-3) took the loss allowing seven hits and four runs (3 ER) in 4.0+ innings pitched. 

 

 

Here is a look at the 2021 GNAC Softball records following play Saturday, with the NNU (regular-season champions), CWU and WWU all clinching spots in the GNAC Championships. The final spot for the GNAC Championships will be decided Sunday between Saint Martin's and Western Oregon. 

 

 

The Vikings (19-11, 10-8 GNAC) complete the regular season Sunday with a doubleheader against Central Washington with first pitch at noon. Prior to the first game, a Senior Day ceremony will be held to honor WWU's four seniors – Anna Kasner, Mackenzie Palmer, Erica Hardy and Hannah Matthews. 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.

 

Anna Kasner recorded 11 strikeouts in Saturday's opening game for her 16^th career double-digit strikeout performance. She now has 508 career strikeouts, four short of breaking the all-time career strikeout record in the 20-year history of the Great Northwest Athletic Conference.

 

 

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.