SEASIDE, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team had its season come to a close on Friday with a pair of losses in the NCAA Division II West Regional at the Otter Sports Complex.
The No. 8 seed Vikings entered the day in the winner’s bracket after Thursday’s 5-3 upset of top-seeded and regional host Cal State Monterey Bay, but lost to No. 4 Dixie State (5-0) and No. 5 Sonoma State (6-4) to be eliminated from the NCAA II Tournament.
WWU finished the season with a 34-19 record, tied for the 2nd-most wins in program history and advanced to the NCAA II Championships for the fourth time. The Vikings closed out the season winning 17 of their last 21 games, including a 12-game winning streak heading into the regionals, and won the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament.
After the shutout loss to Dixie State, the Vikings had to turn right around for an elimination game against Sonoma State. WWU was limited to just one hit over the first four innings and trailed 6-0 before staging a comeback. Freshman Paityn Cyr (Mount Vernon, WA) sparked the comeback with a three-run double to the left field gap in the bottom of the 5th inning.
Trailing 6-4, WWU put the tying run on base and Cyr nearly ended the game in walk-off fashion flying out to the warning track in center field. But Sonoma State closed out the win to advance to the regional final where Dixie State will need one win to advance to the West Super Regional.
“It was a disappointing end to a really great season,” said head coach Amy Suiter. “This isn’t the day where you can afford to not play well, and we just didn’t play WWU softball today. I am extremely proud of the way this team fought all year and to make it to the NCAA regional is a great accomplishment. It is a young team that really came together as the season went on, and I think this will make them even hungrier for next season.”
With freshman ace Anna Kasner (16-6, 2.29 ERA, 188 SO) sidelined with a minor back ailment, WWU turned to sophomore Shearyna Labasan (Mililani, HI/Maryknoll) in the circle. Pitching in windy conditions, Labasan (12-6) was tabbed with the loss allowing 7 hits and 4 runs (3 ER) in 3.2 innings. Junior Makinlee Sellevold (Everett, WA/Cascade) pitched the final 3.1 innings holding SSU to 5 hits and 2 runs as the Vikings made their comeback.
Sonoma State left-hander Teresa Danenberg recorded the complete-game victory to keep the Seawolves season alive, allowing 4 hits and 4 runs (3 ER). Left fielder Jordann White led Sonoma at the plate going 3-for-3 with a pair of stolen bases, and leadoff hitter Karly Macadangdang was 2-for-4 with a run scored. Center fielder Alyssa Cuffia recorded 3 RBI, including a 2-run triple in the bottom of the 3rd inning to extend the lead to 3-0
(KPUG News Room, Courtesy WWU Athletics)
