ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team split its Sunday doubleheader at Central Washington, winning the first game 3-0 and falling in the nightcap 8-4 at Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field.
Going 1-1 on the day, WWU dropped the Great Northwest Athletic Conference series to the Wildcats 3-1, and is now 12-12 overall and 4-4 in conference play. CWU improved to 12-11 overall and 3-1 in GNAC play.
In the opening game senior right-handed pitcher Mareena Ramirez fired a complete-game one-hitter with eight strikeouts to record her ninth win of the season.
Senior first baseman Brooke Fesenbek led the Vikings at the plate combining to go 4-for-6 with a double and four RBI. Senior designated player Kinzey Williams went 5-for-8 with two RBI and freshman shortstop Hailey Rath had three hits combined between the two games.
WWU (12-12, 4-4 GNAC) returns home next week hosting Western Oregon in a four-game GNAC series March 25-26 at Viking Field, with doubleheaders scheduled to start at noon each day.
Mareena Ramirez threw her second one-hitter of the weekend, limiting CWU to only a first-inning single, and Kinzey Williams went 3-for-4 with two RBI to lead the Vikings to a 3-0 first game victory.
WWU got on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the top of the 3rd inning when Williams drove in a pair with a single to center field. Senior first baseman Brooke Fesenbek added an insurance run in the top of the 6th inning with a two-out single to left field.
After allowing a one-out single in the bottom of the 1st inning to Harlee Carpenter, Ramirez was in cruise control recording her second shutout of the season to improve to 9-3. The right-hander walk a pair and recorded eight strikeouts.
In addition to the three-hit game from Williams, Fesenbek went 2-for-4 with one RBI and shortstop Hailey Rath was 2-for-4with a run scored.
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WWU 3, CWU 0 (March 19, 2023 at Ellensburg, WA) – Game 1
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Score by Innings
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1
|
2
|
3
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4
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5
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6
|
7
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-
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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
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2
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0
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0
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1
|
0
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-
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3
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10
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0
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7
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12-11, 4-3
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Central Washington
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0
|
0
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0
|
0
|
0
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0
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0
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-
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0
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1
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0
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4
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11-11, 2-1
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WWU – Ramirez and Paulson
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CWU – Laver and Benthagen
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Win: Ramirez (9-3) Save: None Loss: Laver (4-5)
WWU HR: None CWU HR: None
Time of Game: 1:46
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The Vikings jumped out to a 3-1 lead through the top of the 5th inning, but CWU scored seven runs in the 5th and 6th innings to take the night cap 8-4 and the series 3-1.
WWU built the lead with a single run in the 2nd on a double by senior first baseman Brooke Fesenbek and broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the 5th inning on base loaded walks by Amaya Davis and Fesenbek.
The Wildcats got to WWU freshman starter Alexis Slater in the bottom of the 5th inning plating five runs and sending 11 batters to the plate.
The Vikings rallied for a run in the top of the 7th on a run-scoring single by Fesenbek, who finished 2-for-3 with three RBI.
Third baseman Myiah Seaton finished 3-for-4 with three doubles and three RBI. Relief pitcher Payton Kessler improved to 4-1 on the season allowing one run in 1.2 innings.
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CWU 8, WWU 4 (March 19, 2023 at Ellensburg, WA) – Game 2
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Score by Innings
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1
|
2
|
3
|
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
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0
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0
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2
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0
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1
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-
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4
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9
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4
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11
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12-12, 4-4
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Central Washington
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0
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0
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0
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1
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5
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2
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x
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-
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8
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8
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0
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10
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12-11, 3-1
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WWU – Slater, Ramirez (5), Hirai (6) and Christensen
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CWU – Womack, Kessler (5), Laver (7) and Benthagen
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Win: Kessler (4-1) Save: None Loss: Slater (1-5)
WWU HR: None CWU HR: None
Time of Game: 2:32 Att: 118
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