RVINE, Calif. – Going up against two nationally-ranked opponents on the opening day of the 2023 season, the Western Washington University softball team dropped a pair of close games at the CUI Kickoff Classic.

 

WWU dropped the season opener against tournament host and No. 19 Concordia University Irvine 1-0 in 10 innings and lose the second game of the day 2-0 to No. 2 Cal State Dominguez Hills.

 

The Vikings combined to out-hit their two opponents 15-9, but went 2-for-24 with runners in scoring position and 6-for-38 with runners on base while being held off the scoreboard in the first 17 innings of the season. WWU again showed its stellar defense that led the GNAC last season, making only one fielding miscue in the two games.

 

Junior pitchers Mareena Ramirez and Sydney Brown were solid in the circle combining to allow just two earned runs with 16 strikeouts in the two games. Ramirez fired 9.0 scoreless innings with 13 strikeouts in her WWU debut in the 1-0 loss to CUI.

 

Freshman shortstop Hailey Rath had a solid start to her collegiate career going 2-for-4 in each game and senior Kinzey Williams combined to go 4-for-7 at the plate. 

 

The Vikings (0-2) return to play Saturday with a pair of games in the CUI Kickoff Classic at Great Park in Irvine. WWU will play Cal State San Bernardino at 8:30 and Chico State at 4:00 pm. 

 

 

The Vikings dropped the season opener 1-0 to No. 19 CUI in 10 innings.

 

Junior starting pitcher Mareena Ramirez, a transfer from Idaho State, made her WWU debut striking out 13 in 9.0 scoreless innings, tying for the 10th-most strikeouts in a game in program history. 

 

The Vikings had a golden opportunity to put a run on the board in the top of the 8th inning when Isabel Cargill tripled to right field to lead off the inning. WWU couldn't push the potential go-ahead run across the plate and went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position in the game.

 

CUI scored the winning run in walk-off fashion in the bottom of the 10th inning on a two-out single to center field by catcher Dani Cole.

 

#19 Concordia 1, Western Washington 0 (Feb 03, 2022 at Irvine, CA)

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Western Washington... 000 000 000 0 -  0  7  0      (0-1)

Concordia Irvine..... 000 000 000 1 -  1  5  1      (2-0)

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WWU - Ramirez; Brown (10) and Paulson.

CUI - Alvarez; Nunes (4); Entrup (9) and Cole.

Win-Entrup (2-0)  Loss-Brown (0-1)  T-2:55  A-225

 

 

The Vikings out-hit the 2022 NCAA Division II national runner-up Toros 8-4, but again fell short of scoring a run while going 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

 

Junior starting pitcher Sydney Brown scattered four hits in the 6.0-inning complete game, striking out three and walking four. 

 

Senior first baseman Kinzey Williams went 3-for-3 and freshman shortstop Hailey Rath was 2-for-4 for the second consecutive game.

 

CSUDH scored single runs in the third and fourth innings to account for all the scoring in the game. The first run scored on a flyout double play by catcher Maiya Lopez and an insurance run was added on an RBI double by center fielder Alex Davis.

 

Sara Bhatt earned the win for the Toros in relief with 2.0 scoreless innings and Alyssa Olague recorded the save with 3.0 scoreless frames.

 

#2 Cal St. Dom. Hills 2, Western Washington 0 (Feb 03, 2023 at Irvine, CA)

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Western Washington.. 000 000 0 -  0  8  1      (0-2)

Cal St. Dom. Hills.. 001 100 X -  2  4  1      (1-1)

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WWU - Brown and Christensen. 

CSUDH - Wies; Bhatt (3); Olague (5) and Lopez.

Win-Bhatt (1-0)  Save-Olague (1)  Loss-Brown (0-2)  T-2:13  A-126

 

WWU is now 13-18 all-time in season openers since the inaugural season in 1993. The Vikings are 7-6 in their last 13 season openers dating back to 2011.

 

For just the fourth time in the 31-year history of the WWU softball program, the Vikings played an extra-inning contest in the season opener. WWU's 1-0 loss in 10 innings to No. 19 Concordia tied for the longest opening game of a season in program history, matching a 10-inning 1-0 loss at Seattle U. on February 25, 2006. WWU is now 0-4 in season openers that go extra innings.

 

Here is a detailed look at WWU's five-game schedule at the Concordia Kickoff Classic. A very informative tournament website is available at CUIEagles.com, which includes important fan information for tickets and field locations. All games will feature live statistical updates online with links listed below:

 

 

The Vikings (0-2) have three remaining games in the CUI Kickoff Classic, with games Saturday against Cal State San Bernardino (8:30 am) and Chico State (4:0 pm). Tournament play wraps up Sunday for Western against Dominican (9:00 am). For links to follow the games and updated information on the Vikings, visit 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).