Anna Kasner recorded 12 strikeouts in the second game, moving into 5th in WWU history with 285 strikeouts
Vikings Split Doubleheader at Stanislaus State
March 27, 2018
TURLOCK, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team split its non-conference doubleheader Tuesday at Stanislaus State, dropping the first game 5-3 and came back with a 3-2 extra-inning victory in the nightcap at Warrior Softball Field.
WWU moves to 11-20 on the season and completed the non-conference portion of its schedule with a 6-13 record. Stanislaus State, coached by former WWU assistant and University of Washington player Jessica Ventoza, is 18-14 following the doubleheader split.
WWU was an inning away from notching the doubleheader sweep, as a 3-run 1st inning in the first game of the doubleheader proved to be too much for the Vikings to overcome in the 5-3 loss. Western had the potential go-ahead run come to the plate while recording 4 hits in the top of the 7th inning, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
In the nightcap, sophomore pitcher Anna Kasner (Milton, WA/Fife) was holding Stanislaus scoreless through the first 6.0 innings and the Vikings took a 1-0 lead heading into the final inning. Stanislaus plated the game-tying run on a wild pitch with one out in the bottom of the 7th inning.
With the international tiebreaker in effect placing a runner on second base to start the 8th inning, the Vikings forged ahead on a 2-run double to left field by freshman first baseman Rylie Wales (Snohomish, WA). The Warriors immediately scored a run in the bottom of the 8th on a stolen base and throwing error, but Kasner struck out the last two batters she faced to strand the tying run on base.
Kasner (6-8) earned the win allowing one earned run in the 8.0-inning complete game effort, striking out 12 batters without issuing a walk. It was her first appearance since leaving her start Saturday against San Francisco State after only pitching 1.0 inning and leaving with a minor injury.
The Vikings (11-20) continue their extended spring break road trip and return to Great Northwest Athletic Conference play with a four-game series at Montana State Billings on Friday (starts at 1 pm MT) and Saturday (starts at noon MT).
