BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team opened its 2022 home slate with a doubleheader sweep over Western Oregon University on Friday at Viking Field.
WWU earned a come-from-behind 5-3 win in the first game and completed the sweep with an 8-0 run-rule-shortened victory in the nightcap. WWU improved to 7-11 overall with the pair of wins over WOU in games that do not count against the GNAC regular-season standings. WOU entered the contest with a 12-5 record, but endured consecutive losses for the first time this season to drop to 12-7.
The Vikings offense had a breakout day, racking up 13 runs on 20 hits, the defense did not commit an error and WWU's pitchers allowed only three runs in 12.0 innings..
At the plate, Western was led by 3-for-6 days from seniors outfielders Lauren Lo and Rylie Wales. Six different Vikings recorded a multi-hit day and seven recorded at least one RBI.
Winning pitchers Kira Doan (3-3) and Sydney Brown (1-1) combined to throw 10.1 scoreless innings, allowing five combined hits.
With hits in both games, senior Tatum Dow extended her hitting streak to 15 consecutive games, three shy of the WWU record of 18.
The Vikings remain at home hosting Saint Martin's in a non-conference doubleheader Sunday starting at noon in Bellingham.
The Vikings rallied to win the first game of the day 5-3, overcoming a 3-0 deficit scoring five runs in their final two at-bats.
WOU senior shortstop Logan Carlos led the game off with a home run to left-center field to take an early 1-0 lead. Carlos extended the Wolves lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the 2nd inning with a two-run single through the left side of the infield. Carlos finished 2-for-4 and drove in all three runs for the Wolves.
Senior pitcher Kira Doan was able to silence the Western Oregon bats, coming on in relief in the top of the 2nd inning and tossing 5.1 scoreless frames. Doan would finish with the win, scattering four hits with one walk and three punchouts to improve to 3-3 on the season.
The visitors held a 3-0 lead going into the bottom of the 5th inning. Sophomore Macy Tarbox hit a solo shot over the right-center field wall to spark the Viking rally. WWU would load the bases for catcher Rachel Christensen, who smoked a ground ball up the middle for a two-run single that would tie the game 3-3.
The deadlock was broken by an RBI single from freshman Kanilehua Pitoy, who would go 3-for-4 in the game. A single to left side from Sydney Brown extended the Vikings lead and Doan closed out her 19th career victory.
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WWU 5, WOU 3 (March 4, 2022 at Bellingham, WA) – Game 1
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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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Western Oregon
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1
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2
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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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3
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5
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1
|
6
|
12-6
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Western Washington
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0
|
0
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0
|
0
|
3
|
2
|
x
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-
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5
|
11
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0
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13
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6-11
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WOU – Tidwell, Smith (4) and Willoughby
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WWU – Baker, Doan (2) and Christensen
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Win: Doan (3-3) Save: None Loss: Smith (7-1)
WWU HR: Tarbox (3) WOU HR: Carlos (3)
Time of Game: 2:44 Weather: 48-degrees, Sun Breaks
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WWU closed out the doubleheader sweep with an 8-0 victory in the nightcap in a run-rule-shortened five inning contest.
Sophomore starting pitcher Sydney Brown earned the win in her second start of the season, recording a one-hit shutout with four strikeouts and three walks.
Senior first baseman Dakota Brooks went 2-for-2 with an RBI, and senior left fielder Rylie Wales went 2-for-3 with a double and two runs driven in.
The Vikings bats kept their offensive momentum going into the second game, with their first six batters of the game reaching base safely. Brooks drove in the first run of the inning on a single off the left-field wall. A bases-clearing triple from senior second baseman Chantelle Shimabukuro followed by a Wales run-scoring double would give WWU a five-run lead before the visitors could tally an out.
WWU would extend the lead to 8-0 in the bottom of the 4th inning on a Wales RBI single and an error. After a scoreless frame from Brown in the 5th, the game would end early on account of the run-rule.
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WWU 8, WOU 0 (March 4, 2022 at Bellingham, WA) – Game 2 (5 inn.)
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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
|
7
|
-
|
R
|
H
|
E
|
LOB
|
Record
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Western Oregon
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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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x
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x
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-
|
0
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1
|
1
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5
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12-7
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Western Washington
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6
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0
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0
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2
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x
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x
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x
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-
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8
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9
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0
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6
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7-11
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WOU – Young, Derrick (1) and Willoughby
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WWU – Brown and Christensen
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Win: Brown (1-1) Save: None Loss: Young (0-1)
WWU HR: None WOU HR: None
Time of Game: 1:49 Att: 222 Weather: 51-degrees, Sunny
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The Vikings (7-11) host Saint Martin's on Sunday in a non-conference doubleheader starting at noon at Viking Field. After playing 16 consecutive road games to open the season, WWU is two games into an eight-game homestand. 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.
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. During the eight-season span from 2014-2021, the Vikings combined to go 195-148 and won a pair of GNAC Tournament titles (2017 & 2019).
