KANE'OHE, HI – The Western Washington University softball team used a record-breaking offensive performance to split its doubleheader Sunday against the University of Hawai'i Hilo at Howard Okita Field.
The Vikings dropped the opening game 9-1 in six innings but bounced back in a big way with a 19-7 victory in a run-rule-shortened game in the nightcap. WWU is 6-5 on the season heading into Monday's doubleheader vs. Chaminade to complete the six-game Hawai'i road trip.
After dropping the first game, the WWU bats came alive equaling the program single-game record with 19 runs scored, setting the record with 18 RBI and tying for 3rd with 19 hits.
Freshman shortstop Hailey Rath went 3-for-3 falling a triple short of hitting for the cycle, hitting her second home run in as many days and setting the WWU freshman record with six RBI.
Senior first baseman Brooke Fesenbek also tallied six RBI going 3-for-5 to fall a home run short of the cycle.
Junior right fielder Isabel Cargill was 3-for-4 with four runs scored to tie the single-game runs record and Kinzey Williams reached base four times out of the leadoff spot going 2-for-3 with three runs scored.
Right-handed pitcher Mareena Ramirez recorded the decision in each game, moving to 5-1 on the season with a 1.16 ERA (7 ER, 42.1 IP) in seven appearances (5 GS).
The Vikings (6-5) close out their trip to Hawai'i Monday with a doubleheader against Chaminade beginning at 12 pm HT/2 pm PT at Silversword Field at Sand Island Park.
The Vikings took a 1-0 lead over the Vulcans on a run in the 2nd inning, but UHH scored nine unanswered runs to take the opening game 9-1 in six innings.
WWU plated the go-ahead run on a single by third baseman Amaya Davis, following a single by catcher Emily Paulson and double by freshman first baseman Isabella Bay. The Vikings threatened to add more runs in the frame, but McKenna Crum lined into a double play to end the inning.
UHH got to WWU starter Mareena Ramirez with two runs each in the 2nd and 3rd innings and added five more runs over the final three innings to end the game on the 8-run rule.
Ramirez (4-1) recorded her first loss of the season allowing four runs and four hits in 2.2 innings. Freshman Alexis Slater completed the game allowing five hits and five runs (4 ER) in 2.2 innings.
Alexis Lacy (2-3) earned the win for the Vulcans allowing three hits and the one run in the 6.0 complete-game effort. Third baseman Chloe Domingo went 2-for-2 with three RBI and reached base in all four plate appearances also drawing a pair of walks.
Hawaii Hilo 9, Western Washington 1 (Feb 19, 2023 at Kaneohe, HI) - Game 1
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Western Washington.... 010 000 - 1 3 1 (5-5)
Hawaii Hilo........... 022 113 - 9 9 3 (3-5)
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Western Washington - Ramirez; Slater (3) and Paulson
Hawaii Hilo - Lacy and Cejkova-Kolaci
Win-Lacy (2-3) Loss-Ramirez (4-1) T-1:50
HR UHH – Tilton (1)
The Vikings bounced back in a big way with a 19-7 win in the nightcap, tying the single-game program record for runs scored and setting the record with 18 RBI.
Hailey Rath and Brooke Fesenbek each recorded six RBI to tie for 5th-most in program single-game history, with Rath setting the WWU freshman record.
The Vikings got out to a quick start with Rath belting a three-run home run in the top of the 1st inning, her second of the season. UHH answered with three runs in the bottom half of the 1st inning, but WWU answered with four in the top of the 2nd and would lead the rest of the way.
Fesenbek provided a two-run triple in the 2nd inning and a 2-run double in the 4th to highlight her 3-for-5 performance at the plate. Rath added a run-scoring single in the 2nd inning, RBI double in the 5th and a bases loaded walk in the 6th to finish a triple short of the cycle going 3-for-3 with four runs scored.
Isabel Cargill was 3-for-5 with four runs scored and Kanilehua Pitoy went 4-for-5. Kinzey Williams reached base four times out of the leadoff spot going 2-for-3 with a pair of walks.
Mareena Ramirez earned the win in relief to improve to 5-1 on the season, allowing two hits and one unearned run in 4.0 innings. Starting pitcher Hanako Hirai recorded a no-decision allowing four hits and five runs (3 ER) in 2.0+ innings.
Western Washington 19, Hawaii Hilo 7 (Feb 19, 2023 at Kaneohe, HI) - Game 2
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Western Washington.... 340 246 0 - 19 19 2 (6-5)
Hawaii Hilo........... 320 200 X - 7 6 2 (3-6)
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Western Washington - Hirai; Ramirez (3) and Christensen
Hawaii Hilo - Avalos; Lacy (3); Risdall (4) and Cejkova-Kolaci; Piltz
Win-Ramirez (5-1) Loss-Lacy (2-4) T-2:40 A-92
HR WWU - Rath (2)
Here is a look at the record-book entries for WWU in the 19-7 win in the second game of the doubleheader:
- Team: 1st RBI (18), T1st runs scored (19), T3rd hits (19), T8th total bases (28), T11th walks (8)
- Hailey Rath: Freshman record for RBI (6), T1st runs scored (4), T5th RBI (6)
- Brooke Fesenbek: T5th RBI (6)
- Isabel Cargill: T1st runs scored (4)
The Vikings (6-5) close out the six-game trip to Hawai'i Monday with a doubleheader against Chaminade beginning at noon HT/2 pm PT. Fans can follow the action with direct links to the webcast and live stats at wwuvikings.com/SB_23.
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 31st season in 2023. 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 19 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 nine-season span from 2014-2022, the Vikings have combined to go 224-172 and won a pair of GNAC Tournament titles (2017 & 2021).
