March 27, 2007

Box Score

TURLOCK, Calif. - Nicole Walker (Sr., Kenmore/Juanita) struck out 10 and Sarah McEnroe (Fr., Woodinville) nine as Western Washington University totaled 18 runs and 26 hits to sweep Chaminade University in a non-conference softball doubleheader by scores of 7-1 and 11-5 on Tuesday at Pedretti Park.

The Vikings, who snapped a five-game losing streak, improved to 10-10. Their 15 hits in the nightcap were a season high and their 11 runs tied a season best. Western's Lisa Pendergrast (Jr., Burlington/Burlington-Edison) extended her streak of consecutive hits to seven, three short of the school record, before being retired, and Liza Teichler (Jr., Sammamish/Skyline) was 4-for-9 on the day to maintain her Great Northwest Athletic Conference-leading .444 batting average (28-for-63). Chaminade fell to 7-22.

In the opener, Walker (2-4) scattered six hits, walking one and hitting one batter. The 10 strikeouts were the most in a game by a Western pitcher this season and it was her best total since early in the 2005 campaign when she had a career-high 11 strikeouts.

Western scored three runs in the top of the first, Teichler and Pendergrast each having run-scoring singles. Pendergrast finished 3-for-3 for the second straight game.

The Vikings had a four-run rally in the third, Reina Boersma (Jr., Ferndale/Peninsula CC) driving in two runs with a double. Ashley Osman (Sr., Federal Way/Jefferson) and Misty Britt (Sr., Kelso) also had RBI doubles in that frame.

Carolyn Fisher (5-12) got the loss for Chaminade, striking out five with no walks and one hit batter. Keli-Grace Saniatan, who was 2-for-4, scored the Silverswords' only run, an unearned one in the bottom of the third inning.

In the second game, Western led 10-0, scoring two runs in the first, five in the second and three in the fourth. McEnroe (3-1) had nine strikeouts, while giving up six hits and walking one.

Teichler's double and a sacrifice fly by Meghan Flem (Fr., Hood River/Hood River Valley) accounted for the Vikings' two runs in the first.

Hannah Becker (Fr., Robstown, TX/Calallen) led off the second by hitting her team-leading fourth home run of the season. Teichler and Pendergrast each had run-scoring singles and Flem plated another run with a double. Becker and Morgan Parkerson (So., RAF Lakenheath, England) each had RBI singles in Western's three-run fourth.

Parkerson and Teichler each had three hits in the game, and Walker and Becker two apiece. Teichler and Becker each drove in two runs and scored one.

Chaminade scored four runs in the fourth, the big blow a three-run homer by Kristine Mihara. Brandi Sasaki was 2-for-3 with a double and an inside-the-park home run in the sixth.

The Vikings next compete in the Tournament of Champions on Friday thru Sunday at Turlock, Calif.