April 23, 2006

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Ashley Osman (Jr., Federal Way/Jefferson) pitched a five-hit shutout and singled in the winning run as Western Washington University blanked Saint Martin's University, 1-0, in the opener of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball doubleheader Sunday at Viking Field.

The Vikings, who have won 11 of their last 18 games after a 7-16 start, improved to 18-23 overall and 6-9 in league play. Saint Martin's dropped to 7-30 overall and 3-15 in GNAC action.

Osman upped her record to 2-4 with the first shutout of her three-year career. She struck out one and did not issue a walk, allowing just two Saints to reach second base.

Tana Lingl (3-16) was the tough-luck loser for Saint Martin's. She gave up just four hits in 6-1/3 innings, striking out two and walking two.

The game's only run came in the bottom of the seventh inning when Western's Devin Dykstra (So., Sumas/Nooksack Valley) drew a leadoff walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Jessica Wilkinson (Grad., Seattle/Garfield/UW), and scored on a hard-hit single to leftfield by Osman.

The Vikings' only other scoring opportunity came in the sixth when Amanda Shiflet (Fr., Stanwood) hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a passed ball.

Nicole Walker (Jr., Kenmore/Juanita) and Dykstra got Western's other two hits, both singles.

Courtney Cunningham was 2-for-3 for Saint Martin's.