BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team swept its doubleheader Sunday vs. Saint Martin's University to complete a perfect 4-0 record during the home-opening weekend at Viking Field.

 

WWU earned wins of 5-3 and 2-1 over Saint Martin's Sunday, combining with a sweep over Western Oregon on Friday to improve to 9-11 overall during the early part of the 2022 season.

 

The Vikings built a 5-0 lead over the Saints in the opening game and held off a late rally for the 5-3 victory and put an exclamation point on the weekend of great weather at Viking Field with a 2-1 walk-off victory on a double by Dakota Brooks in the nightcap. 

 

The Vikings outhit the Saints 15-7 on the day, highlighted by home runs from sophomore Macy Tarboxand senior Tatum Dow. Dow went 3-for-7 with two extra-base hits on the day, plating two runs. Tarbox went 3-for-5 with two RBIs of her own.

 

WWU pitchers combined to allow just four runs and seven hits, tallying 12 punchouts. Freshman Joie Baker and senior Kira Doan each recorded a victory, with Doan also recording the save in the first game.

 

With hits in both games, Dow extended her hitting streak to 17 consecutive games, just one short of tying the school record of hits in 18 straight games.

 

The Vikings (9-11, 0-0 GNAC) remain at home to open GNAC play next weekend with a pair of doubleheaders against Northwest Nazarene University. Doubleheaders will be played Friday (March 11) and Saturday (March 12) at Viking Field in Bellingham with first pitch scheduled each day at noon.

 

 

The Vikings took an early lead and held off a late rally from Saint Martins to win the first game of the doubleheader 5-3.

 

WWU out-hit Saint Martin's 8-5 to earn their third consecutive win.

 

Sophomore Macy Tarbox continued her hot streak at the plate going 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Senior Tatum Dow extended her hitting streak to 16 consecutive games with an RBI double in the 5th inning. Senior Lauren Lo also plated a pair of two runs.

 

Freshman starting pitcher Joie Baker earned her fourth win of the season, taking a one-hitter into the 7th inning (6.2 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 8 SO). Senior Kira Doan came on to get the last out of the game and earn her second career save.

 

The Vikings got off to a good start with a two-run shot off the red-hot bat of Tarbox, who hit her fourth home run in the last five games.

 

Western added two insurance runs in the 5th inning off two-run double by Lo and plated another in the 6th to bring the lead to 5-0.

 

The Saints rallied in the 7th inning, scoring three runs including a two-run home run from Kaleena Yra. Doan was able to stifle the rally, coming in with two outs and the bases loaded to record the last out and secure the 5-3 win.

 

 

 

The Vikings capped the doubleheader sweep by winning a pitcher's duel with a walk-off 2-1 victory in the nightcap. 

 

Senior first baseman Dakota Brooks hit a double to the left field gap on a 1-2 pitch in the bottom of the 7th inning to score Lauren Lo with the game-winning run to set off a Sunday celebration at Viking Field.

 

With the game tied 1-1, Lo recorded a hustle-double on a ball that caromed off the shin of SMU pitcher Abby Runyon. She scored on the line drive double by Brooks that one-hopped the fence in left-center field. 

 

Vikings starting pitcher Sydney Brown and Saints starter Abby Runyon combined to allow only nine hits in their starts.

 

Brown went 6.0 innings, giving up one run on just two hits (6.0 IP, 2 H, 6 BB, 4 SO).

 

Senior Kira Doan came on in relief in the 7th, pitching a scoreless frame and picking up her fourth win of the season.

 

Three different Vikings recorded multi-hit games. Senior Tatum Dow went 2-for-4 with a home run, Brooks went 2-for-4 with the game-winning RBI, and senior second baseman Chantelle Shimabukuro went 2-for-3 with a double.

 

Dow hit a no-doubt home run down the left-field line to give the Vikings a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 5th inning. With her seventh multi-hit game of the season she extended her hitting streak to 17 consecutive games.

 

The Saints answered back in the top of the sixth, tying it up 1-1 on a single from sophomore Malia Pinder.

 

 

The Vikings (9-11, 0-0 GNAC) continue an eight-game homestand next weekend hosting Northwest Nazarene Friday and Saturday at Viking Field. Doubleheaders will be played Friday (March 11) and Saturday (March 12) at Viking Field in Bellingham with first pitch scheduled each day at noon. 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).