ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team dropped a pair of games Saturday in a GNAC doubleheader against Central Washington University at Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field.
WWU dropped the opening game 1-0 despite a one-hitter by senior starting pitcher Mareena Ramirez and then endured a run-rule-shortened 14-5 loss in the nightcap.
The Vikings and Wildcats will play another conference doubleheader Sunday starting at noon in Ellensburg.
Sophomore third baseman Amaya Davis led the Vikings at the plate combining to go 4-for-4 with a double and RBI, and reached base safely in all six plate appearances with two walks.
Ramirez was saddled with the tough-luck loss in the opening game allowing just a solo home run in the 1-0 defeat.
The pair of losses evened WWU's season record at 11-11 overall and 3-3 in GNAC play. CWU improved to 11-10 overall and is off to a 2-0 start in conference play.
CWU catcher Alyssa Benthagen hit a solo home run to center field with two outs in the bottom of the 6th inning for the only run of the game in the 1-0 Wildcat victory.
WWU starter Mareena Ramirez tossed a one-hitter, but Benthagen's third home of the season proved to be the difference. Ramirez dropped to 8-3 on the season while striking out five batters and walking three.
The Vikings scattered three hits and put runners in scoring position in the 2nd and 5th innings, but couldn't push a run across the plate. Amaya Davis went 2-for-2 with a walk to account for two of the three hits.
CWU starter Ashlee Laver went the distance for the complete-game shutout to improve to 4-4 on the season.
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CWU 1, WWU 0 (March 18, 2023 at Ellensburg, WA) – Game 1
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Score by Innings
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1
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2
|
3
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4
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5
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6
|
7
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-
|
R
|
H
|
E
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LOB
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Record
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Western Washington
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0
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0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
-
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
5
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11-10, 3-2
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Central Washington
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0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
x
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-
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1
|
1
|
0
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4
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10-10, 1-0
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WWU – Ramirez and Paulson
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CWU – Laver and Benthagen
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Win: Laver (4-4) Save: None Loss: Ramirez (8-3)
WWU HR: None CWU HR: Benthagen (3)
Time of Game: 1:36
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The Wildcats used an eight-run 3rd inning to build a 10-1 lead and never looked back in a 14-5 victory over the Vikings in a 5-inning game shortened due to the run rule.
Trailing 10-1, the Vikings scored three runs in the 4th inning, but couldn't overcome the big CWU inning to fall in the second game of the doubleheader.
WWU starter Alexis Slater endured the loss allowing five runs off four hits in 2.0+ innings. Reliever Hanako Hirai was touched for 10 hits and nine runs over the final 2.0 innings.
Amaya Davis went 2-for-2 for the second consecutive games and Hailey Rath drilled her team-leading sixth double.
Relief pitcher Payton Kessler (3-1) earned the win allowing four unearned runs in 3.0 innings. Starter Isabel Womack gave up one run in 2.0 innings, issuing six walks.
Third baseman Myiah Seaton was the hitting hero for the Wildcats going 2-for-3 with a double and home run for six RBI.
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CWU 14, WWU 5 (March 18, 2023 at Ellensburg, WA) – Game 2
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Score by Innings
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1
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2
|
3
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4
|
5
|
6
|
7
|
-
|
R
|
H
|
E
|
LOB
|
Record
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Western Washington
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0
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1
|
0
|
3
|
1
|
x
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x
|
-
|
5
|
6
|
1
|
9
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11-11, 3-3
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Central Washington
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2
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0
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8
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4
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x
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x
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x
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-
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14
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14
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3
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9
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11-10, 2-0
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WWU – Slater, Hirai (3) and Christensen
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CWU – Womack, Kessler (3) and Benthagen
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Win: Kessler (3-1) Save: None Loss: Slater (1-4)
WWU HR: None CWU HR: Seaton (1)
Time of Game: 2:15 Att: 111
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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).
