March 26, 2007

Box Score

TURLOCK, Calif. - Western Washington University committed eight errors and gave up seven unearned runs as it lost 3-2 and 8-2 to nationally ranked Cal State Stanislaus in a non-conference softball doubleheader Monday at Warrior Field.

The Vikings, who have lost their last five games, fell to 8-10. Liza Teichler (Jr., Sammamish/Skyline) was 4-for-5 on the day as she raised her team-leading batting average to .444.

CSUS, ranked No.9 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association Coaches Poll, improved to 26-8 and has won its last four games.

In the opener, Western pitcher Jackie Quint (Sr., Silverdale/Central Kitsap) (5-4) got the loss despite giving up just three hits in six innings, striking out three, walking two and hitting one batter. Two of the CSUS runs were unearned as the Vikings committed three errors.

Teichler doubled in a run and scored on a single by Meghan Flem (Fr., Hood River, OR/Hood River Valley) as Western took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning. It was the fourth straight game that the Vikings had scored the first two runs and lost.

Quint retired eight in a row before a leadoff single by Meghan Franksen in the fourth. Franksen advanced to third on a fielder's choice and scored on a dropped line drive by the left fielder.

Franksen, who was 2-for-2 in the contest, tied the game with a run-scoring single in the fifth. The Warriors took the lead for good later in that frame when the throw on a delayed double steal was dropped by the second baseman.

Jennifer Arnold (2-1) got the win for CSUS despite allowing six hits and walking four. She struck out two.

Nicole Walker (Sr., Kenmore/Juanita) was 2-for-2 for the Vikings.

In the nightcap, CSUS scored three runs in the second. Casey Stephenson had a two-run double and later scored on a fielding error by the shortstop.

The Warriors had another three-run rally in the fourth, all the runs being unearned. Arnold had the big hit, a two-out, two-run double. CSUS scored two more unearned runs in the sixth on sacrifice flies by Arnold and Gina Legault.

Western scored once in the sixth as Hannah Becker (Fr., Robstown, TX/Calallen) walked, went to third on a double by Walker and came home on a ground out by Flem. The Vikings got another run in the seventh as McEnroe walked and eventually scored on a single by Teichler.

Warrior pitcher Nikki DeLeon (5-1) got the complete-game victory. Arnold was 2-for-3 with three RBI and Stephenson 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Getting the loss for the Vikings was Walker (1-4), who worked the first 4-2/3 innings. Lisa Pendergrast (Jr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison) and Teichler each had three hits for Western.

The Vikings meet Chaminade University in a non-league doubleheader Tuesday (1 p.m.) at Turlock, Calif.