BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team has found it stride, recording a pair of wins over Northwest Nazarene University in a doubleheader sweep Thursday to open Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.
WWU recorded a come-from-behind 3-2 win in the opening day of the twin bill at Viking Field and extended its winning streak to six consecutive games with a 10-1 run-rule victory in five innings in the nightcap. With the pair of wins, the Vikings not only started the GNAC season 2-0, but also evened their season record at 11-11.
The Vikings continued to perform in all facets of the game, combining for 19 hits and 13 runs (.432 team batting average) in the wins over NNU, allowed just nine hits and three runs and did not make an error on 51 total chances in the field.
Senior Kira Doan (5.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R) and sophomore Sydney Brown (5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 R) earned the wins in the circle as the Vikings lowered their team ERA to 4.00 (3rd in the GNAC).
Sophomore Macy Tarbox combined to go 3-for-5 with a double and two RBI, senior Lauren Lo was 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored and Rachel Christensen went 3-for-6 with a double, triple and three RBI to lead the Vikings at the plate. Senior first baseman Dakota Brooks was also 2-for-6 with a double and two RBI.
Senior All-American shortstop Tatum Dow recorded a hit in each game of the doubleheader going 2-for-5, extending her hitting streak to 19 consecutive games to set the all-time WWU record. Dow broke the previous 18-game hitting streak record held by Jen Brandolini (1998) and Michelle Wrigley (2010-11).
The Vikings (11-11, 2-0 GNAC) close out their eight-game homestand Friday with the final two games of the four-game series vs. Northwest Nazarene. First pitch at Viking Field is scheduled for 11 am.
The Vikings battled back from a 2-0 deficit, scoring single runs in the second, third and fourth innings for the 3-2 victory in the opening game of the doubleheader.
NNU got off to the quick start with a pair of first inning runs. Sydney Booth doubled home a runs and Tori Hensley lifted a sacrifice fly to put the Nighthawks up 2-0.
The Vikings cut their deficit in half in the bottom of the second inning. Second baseman Chantelle Shimabukuro reached base to lead off the inning with a hit-by-pitch and scampered home all the way home from first base on a sacrifice bunt by Rylie Wales and a NNU throwing error.
WWU tied the game in the third inning on a two-out, 0-2 single up the middle by Macy Tarbox.
Western went ahead in the fourth inning on triples by Kanilehua Pitoy and Rachel Christensen.
Entering the game in the third inning, senior Kira Doan was masterful in a 5.0-inning relief effort allowing only one hit in the scoreless outing. The reigning GNAC Pitcher of the Week improved to 5-3 on the season while recording her 21st career win. Freshman starter Joie Baker recorded a no-decision allowing two runs and three hits in 2.0 innings.
Tarbox went 2-for-3 with one RBI and Tatum Dow went 1-for-3 to extend her hitting streak to 18 games to tie the all-time WWU record.
NNU starting pitcher and reigning GNAC Pitcher of the Year Sydney Booth (7-4) earned the loss allowing seven hits and three runs (2 ER) in the complete game effort.
|
WWU 3, NNU 2 (March 10, 2022 at Bellingham, WA) – Game 1
|
|
Score by Innings
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
-
|
R
|
H
|
E
|
LOB
|
Record
|
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
2
|
4
|
1
|
5
|
12-9, 0-1
|
|
Western Washington
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
x
|
-
|
3
|
7
|
0
|
6
|
10-11, 1-0
|
|
NNU – Booth and Zuvela
|
|
WWU – Baker, Doan (3) and Christensen
|
|
Win: Doan (5-3) Save: None Loss: Booth (7-4)
WWU HR: None NNU HR: None
Time of Game: 1:55 Weather: 44-degrees, Cloudy and Cold
|
The Vikings completed the GNAC-opening doubleheader sweep with a 10-1 victory in a five-inning rule-rule-shortened game in the nightcap.
The Vikings scored in all four innings they stepped to the plate, building a 2-0 lead after the first two innings and then put the game away with a six-run third frame.
Sophomore starting pitcher Sydney Brown twirled another gem, improving to 2-1 on the season allowing five hits and only one run in the complete-game (5.0 IP) effort. The right-hander struck out three, did not walk a batter and had great defense behind her with another effort-free game.
Junior catcher Rachel Christensen went 3-for-3 with a two-run double and senior second baseman Chantelle Shimabukuro went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.
Senior shortstop Tatum Dow extended her hitting streak to a WWU-record 19 consecutive games.
The Vikings jumped out to the early lead on a first-inning sacrifice fly by Macy Tarbox and a single through the left side by Dow in the second inning to gain the early 2-0 lead. WWU extended the lead to 8-0 with a six-run third frame, with Christensen and Dakota Brooks both tallying two-run doubles.
NNU starting pitcher Charlotte Forniss (2-2) was saddled with the loss allowing eight hits and six runs (5 ER) in 2.2 innings of work. Shortstop Ivy Hommel went 2-for-2 and second baseman Emma Mulligan drove in NNU's only run going 2-for-2 with her fourth double of the season.
|
WWU 10, NNU 1 (March 10, 2022 at Bellingham, WA) – Game 2
|
|
Score by Innings
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
-
|
R
|
H
|
E
|
LOB
|
Record
|
|
Northwest Nazarene
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
x
|
x
|
-
|
1
|
5
|
4
|
3
|
12-10, 0-2
|
|
Western Washington
|
1
|
1
|
6
|
2
|
x
|
x
|
x
|
-
|
10
|
12
|
0
|
5
|
11-11, 2-0
|
|
NNU – Forniss, Skinner (3), Hensley (4) and Zuvela
|
|
WWU – Brown and Christensen
|
|
Win: Brown (2-1) Save: None Loss: Forniss (2-2)
WWU HR: None NNU HR: None
Time of Game: 1:40 Att: 101 Weather: 44-degrees, Cloudy and Cold
|
The Vikings (11-11, 2-0 GNAC) close out its GNAC-opening four-game series vs. Northwest Nazarene on Friday with first pitch scheduled for 11 am at Viking Field. A live webcast and live stats will be available with direct links at wwuvikings.com/22_SB. Fans will also be allowed in the main field area for the 2022 season after a year with no fans in attendance in 2021.
