BURNABY, B.C. – The Western Washington University softball team kept its spot on top of the GNAC standings with a road doubleheader sweep over Simon Fraser University Saturday afternoon at Beedie Field.

 

WWU continued its hot streak improving to 17-4 over its last 21 games, is 22-15 overall and leads the GNAC with an 8-2 record. The Vikings have won six consecutive GNAC contests (all on the road) to move to the top of the standings one game ahead of Saint Martin's (7-3).

 

SFU entered the game with the highest batting average in the GNAC and West Region at .342, but WWU's pitching duo of senior Kira Doan and freshman Joie Baker limited SFU to 10 hits and three runs in the doubleheader. SFU had its perfect 4-0 start in home games snapped falling to 14-16 overall and 5-9 in GNAC play. SFU scored all three of its runs on solo home runs.

 

The showdown between the GNAC's two most prolific offenses featured an excellent all-around day for the Vikings at the plate, in the field and especially in the circle. Western's conference-leading defense delivered a perfect day in the field.

 

At the dish, WWU went 21-for-62 (.339) on the day and combined to score eight runs. Senior Rylie Waleswent 4-for-7 with one RBI to lead the Vikings in hits, with sophomore Macy Tarbox, senior Dakota Brooks and freshman Kanilehua Pitoy all recorded three hits. Senior Chantelle Shimabukuro recorded a hit in both games to extend her hitting streak to 16 consecutive games (tied for 4th-longest in WWU history) and her on-base streak to 24 games (tied for 3rd).

 

The Vikings (22-15, 8-2 GNAC) close out the four-game GNAC series at SFU Sunday with first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for noon at Beedie Field.

 

The Vikings (22-15, 8-2 GNAC) return to the diamond Sunday with a doubleheader vs. Simon Fraser starting at noon at Beedie Field. Follow all the action with a free webcast and live statistical updates at wwuvikings.com/Live.

 

 

WWU defeated Simon Fraser 3-1 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader on Burnaby Mountain.

 

The Vikings scored three early runs to build a 3-0 lead after the first two innings and senior starting pitcher Kira Doan took it from there. Doan picked up the win (8-5) in a complete-game performance where she limited the top hitting team in the GNAC and West Region to one run on six hits while striking out seven, one short of her single-game career-high.

 

Macy Tarbox and Dakota Brooks both went 2-for-4 with an RBI each, and Kanilehua Pitoy and Rylie Wales also tallying a pair of hits.

 

The Vikings took an early lead via two-out single by Tarbox and added a pair of insurance runs in the 2nd inning on a bases loaded walk by Lauren Lo and a RBI fielder's choice by Brooks. 

 

SFU got one run back by way of a Megan Duclos home run in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

 

From that point on, however, Doan shut down the SFU bats allowing no runs and scattering four hits over the last 4.0 innings to secure a 3-1 Western victory the opening game of the doubleheader. 

 

 

 

Western Washington would come back twice in the nightcap and secured the doubleheader sweep with a 5-2 victory over Simon Fraser.

 

Freshman starter Joie Baker celebrated her birthday by delivering a complete-game game for the Vikings, tossing a four-hitter allowing only one run in the victory.

 

Seniors Lauren Lo and Rylie Wales both went 2-for-3 with an RBI, and junior Brooke Fesenbek went 1-for-3 a big two-run home run..

 

Simon Frasier took the first lead of the nightcap on a home run to left field off the bat of sophomore Rebecca Kirkpatrick, the first home run of her collegiate career.

 

Western loaded the bases in the top of the 4th with no outs, but were only able to pull even at 1-1 on a Wales run-scoring single.

 

The hosts retook the lead in the bottom of the 4th inning on their second solo home run of the game, this time from junior Hannah Boulanger.

 

WWU came out swinging in the 5th inning to take the lead for the first time, recording three hits to start the frame and tying the game 2-2 on a single up the middle on a 0-2 pitch by senior Tatum Dow. Lo gave the Vikings a 3-2 lead with a deep sacrifice fly to center field.

 

The Vikings would extend their lead in the 6th inning on a towering two-run home run to straightaway center field by Fesenbek to make it 5-2.

 

Baker would allow just one hit over the last three innings to lock up the 5-2 win and an impressive doubleheader sweep for the Vikings.

 

 

Here is an updated look at the GNAC standings following play on Saturday with the Vikings maintaining the hold on first place in the conference:

 

 

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!