The Western softball team took their Great Northwest Athletic Conference opener by the horns on Saturday, Feb. 27, sweeping their doubleheader against Simon Fraser University at Robert S. Harrington Field
Head coach Amy Suiter said she wants to continue the way they played during the game.
“We did well,” said Suiter. “I was happy about situational hitting. The pitchers did well, and we had some clutch hitting.”
Western dominated their first game, winning 7-1.
Simon Fraser opened the game strong, leading 1-0 in the top of the first inning. In response, the Vikings buried three runs right away, rounding out the first inning with a 3-1 lead. There were no further points scored until the fifth inning.
Not only did the Vikings make plays in the outfield, but they had a dominant game at the plate as well, scoring an additional four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
After a score from Kali Patterson, Emma Blauser, senior third baseman, hit a three-run home run, bringing the Vikings up to their final 7-1 score.
Junior catcher Lynsey Amundson also had a strong game, connecting with a hit for each of her at-bats, while the Clan stalled at six hits for the entirety of the game. Alexie Levin, senior and right fielder, managed two hits for her four at-bats. Sophomore starting pitcher, Makinlee Sellevold, pitched seven strikeouts, helping to hold the Clan at a single run for the rest of the game.
In the second game the Vikings softball team took down Simon Fraser again 10-5.
On an overcast afternoon, freshman pitcher Shearyna Labasan started the game. Simon Fraser was quickly dispatched in the top of the first inning.
In the bottom of the first, junior catcher Amundson scored a run. Bases were loaded when sophomore pitcher and utility player Sellevold drove in two more runs. During the bottom of the fourth, two pop-flies from Western were caught by Simon Fraser sending two from Western off the field. Amundson was grounded out afterward. Despite that, Western held onto their lead until the top of the fifth inning, when Simon Fraser caught up with three runs, putting the score at 5-5.
Western turned around during the bottom of the fifth when junior second baseman Patterson drove in two more runs, giving the Vikings a 7-5 lead. Simon Fraser was in the position to catch up in the sixth inning, when the bases were loaded, but were unable to capitalize.
Cylie Richards, McKenna Matthews and Sarah Morrow scored in the bottom of the sixth inning, putting the score at 10-5. Simon Fraser was unable to score in the seventh, giving the Vikings a win.
