IRVINE, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team recorded a pair of wins during the second day of the Concordia Kickoff Classic on Saturday at Great Park.

 

After dropping a pair of close games against nationally-ranked opponents on Friday, the Vikings bounced back with two comeback victories defeating Cal State San Bernardino 2-1 and Chico State 4-3 to even the season record at 2-2.

 

WWU's pitching and defense continued its early-season success, with starting pitchers Mareena Ramirez and Sydney Brown combining to allow four runs in 14.0 innings. The Vikings defense committed just one error in the two games and has only two errors in the first four games of the season.

 

Sophomore second baseman Kanilehua Pitoy recorded the game-winning RBI in both games, combining to go 2-for-8 with a pair of doubles. Pitoy recorded a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the 7th inning against Cal State San Bernardino and provided the walk-off heroics in the nightcap with a hard-hit fielder's choice to send the Vikings to a 4-3 win over Chico State.

 

Junior outfielder Isabel Cargill went 3-for-5 with one RBI and senior first baseman Brooke Fesenbek was 2-for-4 with a double and two walks.

 

The Vikings (2-2) wrap up the season-opening CUI Kickoff Classic Sunday morning taking on Dominican at 9 am at Great Park in Irvine. 

 

 

The Vikings broke into the win column in the opening game of the day, shaking off an early start at 8:30 am to record a 2-1 comeback victory over Cal State San Bernardino.

 

Junior starting pitcher Mareena Ramirez recorded another gem in her second appearance of the season, earning her first win as a Viking by allowing one run in a complete-game effort. Ramirez struck out eight to increase her season total to 21 in two starts. 

 

CSUSB opened the scoring with a first-inning run-scoring triple by first baseman Tereise Tosi. Ramirez took control after that, not allowing a run over the final six innings.

 

WWU started on the comeback trail in the 5th inning to tie the game 1-1. Designated player Kinzey Williams singled to lead off the inning and scored the tying run on a two-out double by sophomore second baseman Kanilehua Pitoy.

 

Pitoy provided the heroics once again in the top of the 7th inning, drilling a two-out double down the left field line to score pinch-runner Rachel Christensen all the way from first base. Freshman Hailey Rath sparked the rally drawing a two-out walk to set the table for Pitoy's game-winning hit.

 

Ramirez allowed a pair of one-out singles, but struck out the final two Coyotes she faced to secure the one-run victory. Pitoy went 2-for-4 with both RBI, senior first baseman Brooke Fesenbek finished 2-for-3 with a double and Williams went 2-for-4 extending her early-season hitting streak to three consecutive games.

 

Western Washington 2, Cal St. San Bernardino 1 (Feb 04, 2023 at Irvine, CA)

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Western Washington... 000 010 1 -  2  8  0      (1-2)

Cal St. San B'dino... 100 000 0 -  1  7  0      (1-2)

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WWU Battery - Ramirez and Paulson. 

CSUSB Battery - Vargas; Blackmon (6) and Moite.

Win-Ramirez (1-0)  Loss-Blackmon (0-1)  T-2:26  A-63

 

 

WWU defeated Chico State 4-3 to cap the 2-0 day, coming from behind to defeat the Wildcats with a walk-off victory.

 

The Vikings took an early 2-0 lead on a run-scoring single by senior center fielder Taylor Khorrami and a sac bunt by Isabel Cargill. 

 

The Wildcats forged ahead with a three-run 6th inning, but WWU came right back with a game-tying RBI double by third baseman Amaya Davis.

 

After a scoreless top of the 7th inning by starting pitcher Sydney Brown, the Vikings pushed across the winning run in the bottom half of the inning. Senior Kinzey Williams led off with a walk, moved to second on a single by Cargill and third base on a groundout by Hailey Rath. Kanilehua Pitoy recorded her second game-winning RBI of the day with a hard-hit fielder's choice to second base with Williams sliding home with the winning run.

 

Cargill finished 2-for-2 with a walk and sac bunt and Brown earned the win scattering seven hits and three runs in 6.2 innings. 

 

Western Washington 4, Chico State 3 (Feb 04, 2023 at Irvine, CA)

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Chico State.......... 000 003 0 -  3  7  4      (2-2)

Western Washington... 010 011 1 -  4  5  1      (2-2)

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CHICO - Valdez; Takeda Bajan (6) and Swihart, Berkowitz, Blomquist.

WWU – Brown, Hirai (6) and Christensen. 

Win-Brown (1-2)  Save-None  Loss-Takeda Bajan (0-1)  T-2:20  A-73

 

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 (2-2) wrap up play in the season-opening CUI Kickoff Classic on Sunday taking on Dominican at 9 am. Following Sunday's finale in Irvine, California, WWU returns to the Northwest and will face the University of British Columbia next Saturday (2/11) in a doubleheader starting at 11 am in Vancouver. 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).