IRVINE, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team split its games Saturday at the CUI Kickoff Classic, falling to nationally-ranked Concordia and earning its first win of the season over Cal State San Bernardino.
WWU dropped its first game of the day to No. 10 CUI 7-0, but rebounded with a 7-2 victory over Cal State San Bernardino in a game where the Vikings recorded 11 hits.
The Vikings complete the season-opening Concordia Kickoff Classic Sunday morning playing Cal State Monterey Bay at 9 am.
The No. 10 nationally-ranked Concordia Eagles scored four runs in the first inning and never looked back in a 7-0 victory over the Vikings to improve to 3-0 on the season.
The tournament hosts scored all seven runs in the first three innings, with WWU calming down to hold CUI scoreless over its final three at-bats.
WWU sophomore starter Hanako Hirai allowed four hits and four runs (2 ER) in the first inning, and was relieved by senior right-hander Kira Doan. Doan tamed the Eagles over the final 5.1 innings allowing six hits, three runs (2 ER) and struck out three batters.
Second baseman Chantelle Shimabukuro and right fielder Taylor Khorrami recorded the Vikings two hits.
CUI starting pitcher Rae Flores (1-0) earned the win scattering two hits and five walks in 5.0 scoreless innings. Madison Urrutia retired all six batters she faced in relief with four strikeouts.
Center fielder Lauren Lopez (2-for-4, R) and second baseman Michalah Robinson (2-for-2, R, RBI) each recorded a multi-hit game for the Eagles.
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#10 CUI 7, WWU 0 (February 5, 2022 at Irvine, CA)
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Score by Innings
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1
|
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
|
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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0
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-
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0
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2
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3
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10
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0-3
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#10 Concordia
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4
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2
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1
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0
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0
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0
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x
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-
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7
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10
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1
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4
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3-0
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WWU – Hirai, Doan (1) and Christensen
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CUI – Flores, Urrutia (6) and Flatt, Cole (6)
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Win: Flores (1-0) Save: None Loss: Hirai (0-1)
WWU HR: None CUI HR: None
Time of Game: 2:21 Att: 276
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The Vikings broke into the win column in a big way, tallying 11 hits in the 7-2 win over Cal State San Bernardino.
After recording nine hits and three runs in the first three games of the season, the Vikings offense caught fire with eight of the 11 hits going for extra bases.
Senior first baseman Dakota Brooks finished 2-for-3 with a 2-run home run and a double. The home run in the first inning with two outs staked the Vikings to the early lead, giving her 10 career home runs to tie for 13th in program history.
Freshman Joie Baker twirled a complete-game masterpiece, scattering four hits and allowing two runs in the 7.0 inning outing. Baker struck out three batters and walked only one on 106 pitches (66 strikes).
WWU's 11-hit output was fueled by multi-hit efforts by Brooks (2-for-3, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), senior center fielder Lauren Lo (2-for-3, 2B, RBI) and senior left fielder Rylie Wales (2-for-3, R, 2 2B, RBI).
The Vikings opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 1st inning. Freshman shortstop Ellie Jespersen drilled a two-out triple to center field and Brooks followed with a home run to left field to give Western the early lead.
WWU tacked on two more runs in the 2nd inning to extend the early lead to 4-0. Senior second baseman Chantelle Shimabukuro led off with a triple to right field and scored on a single through the right side of the infield by Lo. Wales followed with a run-scoring double to left-center.
The Coyotes got on the board in the 4th inning to cut the deficit to 4-1, but the Vikings answered right back on a 2-run inside-the-park home run by junior catcher Rachel Christensen.
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WWU 7, CSUSB 2 (February 5, 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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Cal State San Bernardino
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0
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0
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0
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1
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0
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1
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0
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-
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2
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4
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2
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4
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2-2
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Western Washington
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2
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2
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0
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2
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0
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1
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x
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-
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7
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11
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0
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8
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1-3
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CSUSB – Gombos, Carlos (2), Vargas (6) and Garza
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WWU – Baker and Christensen
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Win: Baker (1-1) Save: None Loss: Gombos (0-2)
WWU HR: Brooks (1), Christensen (1) CSUSB HR: None
Time of Game: 2:28 Att: 77
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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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L, 7-0
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Stadium
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Saturday, 2/5
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Cal State San Bernardino
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W, 7-2
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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 close out tournament play at the CUI Kickoff Classic on Sunday taking on Cal State Monterey Bay at 9 am on Field #2 at Great Park. The game will feature live stats with a direct link available at wwuvikings.com/22_SB. WWU travels to Tucson, Arizona next week to play five games in the Desert Stinger hosted by Montana State Billings.
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).
