Western Washington Vikings Softball - Western Washington University Official Athletic Site

WWU edges WOU 3-2, snap Wolves' eight-game win streak

Vikings lose nightcap, 5-2, in doubleheader split

Krista Bickar

April 15, 2012

Box Score - Game 1

Box Score - Game 2

MONMOUTH, Ore. - Western Washington University got clutch hitting from Jessica Carey (Sr., Everett) and Krista Bickar (Sr., Hoquiam) and solid pitching from Janelle Kasch (Fr., Snohomish) and Devyn Baker (So., Montesano) as it edged Western Oregon University, 3-2, in the opener of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball doubleheader Sunday at the WOU Softball Field.

The Vikings, who lost the nightcap, 5-2, are 13-30 overall and 9-17 in league play. They have split their last 14 games following a 6-23 start.

WOU, which had a season-best, eight-game winning streak snapped in the first game, is 17-22 overall and 13-13 in conference action.

In the opener, WWU broke a 1-1 tie with two runs in the top of the fifth inning. Cheyenne Best (Fr., Big Lake/Sedro-Woolley) led off with a single, advanced to second on a sacrifice and scored in a double by Carey. Carey, who had three hits in the game, then went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bickar.

The Wolves got back to within one, 3-2, with a run in the bottom of the fifth, and had the bases loaded with one out in the sixth. But Baker came in to pitch and ended the inning with a fly out to right field. She then blanked WOU in the seventh in notching her first career save.

Kasch, who posted her first collegiate win (1-8), worked the first 5-2/3 innings for WWU, giving up just four hits.

WWU began the game with a run in the top of the first. Best had a lead-off single, advanced to second on a wild pitch and went to third on a single by Carey, then scored on a single by Bickar.

In the second game, WOU took an early lead with three runs in the second.

The Vikings cut the deficit to one, 3-2. Bickar led off the fourth with a home run, her fifth of the season to tie for the team lead. WWU scored another run in the fifth as Best opened with a single and got to third on a double by Kristen Allen (Jr., Arlington). With one out, Bickar was walked intentionally. Rachelle Berry (Jr., Alger/Burlington-Edison) then coaxed a walk to force in Best.

WWU loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth after WOU relief pitcher Myranda Sawyer walked the first batter she faced. But Sawyer, who got a save, ended the threat with three strikeouts and walked just one batter in a scoreless seventh.

Best had four hits in the two games.

Berry's 13-game hitting streak, the Vikings' longest this season, was snapped in the opener with no hits in four plate appearances. She singled in the second game.

WWU opens a 10-game home stand, all GNAC counters, to finish the campaign Saturday (12 noon).