Feb. 16, 2007

Box Score

PHOENIX, AZ - Western Washington University left nine runners on base as it fell 3-2 to Notre Dame de Namur University to complete pool play Friday morning in second-day action at the Schutt Sports Division II Lead-Off Softball Classic being held at the Rose Mofford Sports Complex.

The Vikings, who fell to 1-2, had 11 hits, but twice left runners on third with one out.

NDDNU, which improved to 4-5, managed just four hits, but two of those were home runs. Tanya Huson's homer in the bottom of the sixth inning proved to be the winning run, after pinch hitter Cierra Keeney tied the game at 2-2 with a home run in the fifth.

The Argos led 1-0 after scoring an unearned run in the first. Western tied the score at 1-1 in the second when Liza Teichler (Jr., Sammamish/Skyline) doubled and scored on a single by Lisa Pendergrast (Jr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison).

The Vikings took the lead with a run in the third. Misty Britt (Sr., Kelso) tripled and scored on an illegal pitch. They went on to load the bases with two out, but could not score again.

Ashley Osman (Sr., Federal Way/Jefferson) pitched the first five innings for Western, striking out five and walking one. She retired 11 straight batters before giving up the home run to Keeney. Jackie Quint (Sr., Silverdale/Central Kitsap) (1-1) worked the sixth for the Vikings.

NDDNU pitcher Danielle Holt (3-2) went the distance. She was helped by the outstanding defense of third baseman Anna Garza, who had six putouts, robbing Western of at least three hits.

Britt, Teichler and Pendergrast each had two hits for the Vikings, who will begin bracket play later today. Britt and Teichler lead Western with four hits each in the tourney.

Western opened its season Thursday at the tourney. Following a 4-1 loss to Texas A&M University Kingsville, the Vikings rallied to blank nationally No.3-ranked Emporia State University KS, 2-0. Emporia State posted the best record in the pool.