IRVINE, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team opened the 2022 season with a pair of losses at the Concordia Kickoff Classic at Great Park.
The Vikings dropped the season opener 7-2 to Cal State East Bay and were defeated 3-1 by Stanislaus State.
WWU was limited to seven hits and three runs in the two games, while receiving solid pitching in the circle.
Senior All-American shortstop Tatum Dow tallied a hit in each game, going 2-for-6 with a double and two RBI.
WWU continues the season-opening tournament Saturday with games against No. 10 nationally-ranked Concordia (11:30 am) and Cal State San Bernardino (4:30 pm).
The Vikings dropped their season opener 7-2 to Cal State East Bay with the Pioneers scoring all of their runs with two outs.
WWU was limited to three hits in the contest and senior All-American shortstop Tatum Dow drove in both runs with a two-run double in the bottom of the 5th inning. Senior first baseman Dakota Brooks went 1-for-3 with a triple. Western went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Viking starting pitcher Kira Doan allowed only one hit in 3.2 innings, but was touched for three unearned runs in her season debut to take the loss.
CSUEB got on the board in the top of the 3rd inning when second baseman Madeline Ramirez plated three runs on a WWU outfield error. The Pioneers added a run in the 5th, two in the 6th and one more in the 7th. East Bay combined to go 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position and 8-for-15 with two outs.
Starting pitcher Abby Greer recorded the complete-game victory striking out 12 and walking six in her season debut. Leadoff hitter Sarah Duran (2-for-3, 2 R, 2 RBI) and left fielder Venessa Nguyen (2-for-4, R, RBI) each recorded multi-hit games.
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Cal State East Bay 7, WWU 2 (February 4, 2022 at Irvine, CA)
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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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6
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7
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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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Cal State East Bay
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0
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0
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3
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0
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1
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2
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1
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-
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7
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10
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0
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10
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1-0
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Western Washington
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0
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0
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0
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0
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2
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0
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0
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-
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2
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3
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2
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7
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0-1
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CSUEB – Greer and Colindres
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WWU – Doan, Simmons (4) and Christensen, Pitoy
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Win: Greer (1-0) Save: None Loss: Doan (0-1)
WWU HR: None CSUEB HR: Cadena (1)
Time of Game: 2:40 Att: 120
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WWU dropped to 0-2 to start the season falling 3-1 in a close game against Stanislaus State (1-0).
Freshman Joie Baker made her collegiate debut allowing three runs (2 ER) in a complete-game effort (6.0 IP), scattering five hits, striking out four and walking one.
Stanislaus State got on the board with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 2nd inning, with right fielder Lauryn Serda driving in a run with a triple to left-center field. The Warriors added a run on a fielding error by WWU third baseman Brooke Fesenbek.
Another run-scoring triple by Stanislaus State staked the Warriors to a 3-0 lead through the first four innings, with starting pitcher Kyndra Marzorini holding the WWU bats in check until the 7th inning.
WWU got a pinch-hit run-scoring single from Macy Tarbox with two outs in the top of the 7th inning, but relief pitcher Avery Fitch got freshman Ellie Jespersen to ground out with the tying run on base to end the game and earn the save.
Marzorini (1-0) earned the win allowing four hits and one unearned run in 6.2 innings.
WWU All-American shortstop Tatum Dow went 1-for-3 and has recorded a hit in each of the first two games of the season.
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Stanislaus State 3, WWU 1 (February 4, 2022 at Irvine, CA)
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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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6
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7
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-
|
R
|
H
|
E
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LOB
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Record
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Western Washington
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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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0
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1
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-
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1
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4
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1
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6
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0-2
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Stanislaus State
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0
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2
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0
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1
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0
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0
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0
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-
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3
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5
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1
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3
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1-0
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WWU – Baker and Pitoy
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STAN – Marzorini, Fitch (7) and Warden
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Win: Pamplin (1-0) Save: Fitch (1) Loss: Baker (0-1)
WWU HR: None STAN HR: None
Time of Game: 2:12 Att: 75
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WWU is now 13-17 all-time in season openers since the inaugural season in 1993. The Vikings are 7-5 in their last 12 season openers dating back to 2011.
CONCORDIA KICKOFF CLASSIC
Here is a detailed look at WWU's five-game schedule (and results) from the season-opening Concordia Kickoff Classic in Irvine, California. A very informative tournament website is available at CUIEagles.com, which includes important fan information in regards to tickets and field locations.
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Date
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Opponent
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First Pitch
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Field
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Friday, 2/4
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Cal State East Bay
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L, 7-2
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Field #2
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Friday, 2/4
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Stanislaus State
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L, 3-1
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Field #1
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Saturday, 2/5
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#10 Concordia
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11:30 am
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Stadium
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Saturday, 2/5
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Cal State San Bernardino
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4:30 pm
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Field #3
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Sunday, 2/6
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Cal State Monterey Bay
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9:00 am
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Field #2
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The Vikings have three remaining games in the CUI Kickoff Classic, with games Saturday against No. 10 nationally-ranked Concordia (11:30 am) and Cal State San Bernardino (4:30 pm). Tournament play wraps up Sunday for Western against Cal State Monterey Bay (9:00 am). For links to follow the games and updated information on the Vikings, visit wwuvikings.com/22_SB.
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 30th season in 2022. WWU advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships for the fifth time in program history in 2021 after winning the GNAC Tournament. WWU has posted a winning record 18 times during the 30-year history of the program, which won the 1998 NAIA National Championship in only its sixth season to record the school's first ever team national title. Over the last eight seasons (since 2014), the Vikings are 195-148 and have won two of the last four GNAC Tournament titles (2017 & 2019).
