IRVINE, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team ended the season-opening CUI Kickoff Classic with consecutive wins, highlighted by Sunday's 1-0 walk-off victory over previously unbeaten Cal State Monterey Bay.

Less than 12 hours after defeating Cal State San Bernardino 7-2 for Western's first victory of the season, the Vikings went toe-to-toe with the Otters in a classic pitcher's duel with WWU earning the win to improve to 2-3 on the season. 

Monterey Bay was 4-0 entering the contest with wins over Holy Names, Azusa Pacific, Montana State Billings and Hawaii Pacific, but dropped its first game to end the tournament 4-1. WWU has won three of the last four games in the series vs. the Otters.

WWU got a sterling starting pitching performance from senior Kira Doan (4.1 IP, 4 H, 0 BB, SO) and an even better relief appearance from freshman Joie Baker (2.2 IP 2 H, 0 R) to keep the Vikings in the game.

The Vikings got out of a pair of bases loaded no-out jams, and ducked another CSUMB scoring opportunity with a runner on third base and one out. In the 4th inning senior center fielder Lauren Lo ended the inning with a double play throwing a strike to catcher Rachel Christensen to end the inning.

In the 5th, CSUMB left fielder tripled to right center to chase Doan from the game, but was cut down at home trying to score on a pitch that caromed off the backstop to keep the game scoreless.

The Otters threatened again in the top of the 6th inning loading the bases with no outs on a pair of singles and a walk, but a shallow fly out and an inning-ending 1-2-3 (P-C-1B) double play shut down the scoring chance.

CSUMB starting pitcher Cassie Gasper – a transfer from the University of Missouri – retired the first 13 batters she faced before a single by sophomore designated player Macy Tarbox broke up the perfect game bid in the bottom of the 5th inning.

WWU had a great chance to push across the go-ahead run in the 6th inning, but a stellar defensive play by the Otters pushed the game into the 7th inning scoreless. Lo led off the inning with a single and senior left fielder Rylie Wales drove a ball into the left field gap, where a great running catch was made by Barrow.

Senior shortstop Tatum Dow led off the bottom of the 7th inning with a single to right-center field and moved into scoring position on a foul out by senior first baseman Dakota Brooks. With two outs, freshman Kanilehua Pitoy hit a hard grounder up the middle off relief pitcher Jensen Main that was snagged by shortstop Oli Perez, but the throw was wild and Dow scooted home for the game-winning run. 

Baker earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the season and finished her first week as a Viking with a 1.79 ERA (4 ER, 15.2 IP). Dow recorded a hit in four of the Vikings first five games finishing the tournament 4-for-16 (.250).

The Vikings are back on the road next weekend with five games in the Desert Stinger at Lincoln Park in Tucson, Arizona. WWU opens play in the tournament hosted by Montana State Billings taking on San Francisco State at noon MT (11 am PT) on Friday, February 13. A complete and very detailed tournament website with ticket information and live coverage is available at MSUBSports.com.

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).