SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Powered by a pair of home runs from junior Riley Anderson, the Western Washington University softball team continued its early-season winning ways with a 6-4 victory over Sonoma State University to open the second day of the North Bay Challenge.
The win extended the Vikings perfect start to the season at 6-0 with one more game to be played on Friday against Cal State Monterey Bay. Through the first six games, WWU is batting .323 as a team (62-for-192) with six home runs. In 49 games last season, the Vikings combined for 10 homers.
Anderson, a Lynden native and transfer from Lewis & Clark College, hit a three-run homer in the top of the 2nd inning to put the Vikings up 3-1 and crushed a two-run home run in the top of the 7th inning to break a 4-4 tie. Anderson finished 2-for-3 with a walk and five RBI.
Western starter Joie Baker recorded a no-decision allowing five hits and four runs (2 ER) in 4.0 innings. Baker struck out six and walked four batters. Freshman Kaiana Kong entered in relief for the second consecutive game to improve to 2-0, tossing 3.0 scoreless innings.
Sonoma State dropped to 2-2 on the season after entering the 2024 campaign receiving votes in the NFCA NCAA II Coaches Poll. SSU relief pitcher Charlie Johnson (1-1) was saddled with the loss allowing two runs in 1.2 innings. Second baseman Giana Hays went 2-for-3 while hitting her second home run of the season.
The game was played at Marv Hayes Softball Field on the campus of Santa Rosa Junior College.
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WWU 6, SSU 4 (Feb. 9, 2024 at Santa Rosa, CA)
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Score by Innings
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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R
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H
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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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3
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0
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0
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0
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1
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2
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-
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6
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7
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2
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9
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6-0
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Sonoma State
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1
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0
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2
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1
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0
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0
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0
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-
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4
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5
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3
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7
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2-2
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WWU – Baker, Kong (5) and Andrewjeski
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SSU – Sarra, Johnson (6) and Rapp
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Win: Kong (2-0) Save: None Loss: Johnson (1-1)
WWU HR: Anderson 2 (2,3) SSU HR: Hays (2)
Time of Game: 2:22 Att: 85
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The Vikings (6-0) continue play in the North Bay Challenge this afternoon taking on Cal State Monterey Bay at 3 pm in San Rafael. WWU closes out play in the North Bay Challenge on Saturday with a pair of games at Penguin Field in San Rafael, taking on Chico State at 10 am and Cal State Monterey Bay for the third time this season at 12:30 pm. The complete 2024 WWU Softball schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com.
SERIES HISTORY VS. SONOMA STATE
The Vikings won their second consecutive game against Sonoma State, also winning 4-3 in last year's Tournament of Champions in Turlock…previously dropped five straight against the Seawolves…SSU leads the all-time series 21-11.
Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2024 season:
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RECORD BREAKDOWN
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Overall
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6-0
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GNAC
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0-0
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Non-Conference
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6-0
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Streak
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W6
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Home
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0-0
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Away
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3-0
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Neutral
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3-0
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vs. Ranked Teams
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1-0
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1-Run Games
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2-0
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2-Run Games
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1-0
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Extra Innings
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1-0
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Shutouts
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0-0
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BY UNIFORM
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Black
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3-0
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Blue/White
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1-0
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Navy
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0-0
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Gray
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1-0
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White/Navy
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1-0
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Gray/Blue
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0-0
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