TURLOCK, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team opened the Tournament of Champions with a lopsided 14-0 victory over Academy of Art in a five-inning run-rule-shortened game at the Pedretti Sports Complex.
Sophomore starting pitcher Joie Baker came within one out of recording a no-hitter, but settled for the complete-game two-hit shutout to improve to 2-0 on the season. Making her third start since coming back from knee surgery, Baker didn't allow a hit through the first 4.2 innings of her outing before allowing a pair of two-out singles. Baker struck out two and walked three in her 98-pitch performance.
The Vikings used a big nine-run second inning, sending 13 batters to the plate to grow the lead to 10-0 through their first two at-bats. Kanilehua Pitoy and McKenna Crum both plated a pair of runs with hits in the inning and Emily Paulson had a run-scoring double.
Western added four more runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning with Brooke Fesenbek clearing the bases with a three-run double to center field.
Right fielder Isabel Cargill went 3-for-3 to lead the Vikings 13-hit attack, with Crum (1-for-2), Paulson (1-for-1, BB) and Pitoy (2-for-3) all driving in a pair of runs.
Art U starting pitcher Kamielle Powell (4-12) took the loss allowing three hits and four runs in 1.0+ innings pitched. The Urban Knights dropped to 6-27 overall with the loss.
The Vikings (15-14, 6-6 GNAC) return to play this evening at the Tournament of Champions taking on No. 13 Sonoma State at 7 pm at the Pedretti Sports Complex (Field #2). WWU will play a pair of games Saturday (San Francisco State and Cal State East Bay) and one Sunday (Cal State San Bernardino) to close out the non-conference portion of the schedule.
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WWU 14, ART U 0 (March 31, 2023 at Turlock, CA) – 5 inn.
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Score by Innings
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1
|
2
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3
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4
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5
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6
|
7
|
-
|
R
|
H
|
E
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LOB
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Record
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Academy of Art
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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x
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x
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-
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0
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2
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0
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6
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6-27
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Western Washington
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1
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9
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4
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0
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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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13
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1
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4
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15-14
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ART U – Powell, Harmon (2), Edeker (4) and Mittman
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WWU – Baker and Paulson
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Win: Baker (2-0) Save: None Loss: Powell (4-12)
WWU HR: None ART U HR: None
Time of Game: 1:54 Att: 70
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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).
