LAS VEGAS, Nev. – The Western Washington University softball team opened the 2019 season going 1-1 during the first day of the 10th Annual Desert Stinger at Majestic Park.

Led by first-year head coach Sheryl Gilmore, WWU defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills 8-0 in the first game and were defeated by No. 7 nationally-ranked and defending NCAA II West Region champion Chico State 12-2 in the second game. Both contests were 5-inning games due to the tournament run rule.

The Vikings recorded 15 hits between the two games, including an 11-hit barrage in the win over CSUDH. Junior center fielder Jackie Lucido led the Vikings at the plate going 3-for-5 in the two games with a pair of RBI.

Senior Makinlee Sellevold started both games in the circle, including making her third career Opening Day start in the complete-game shutout victory over Dominguez Hills. Sellevold, who returned to the diamond after not playing in 2018, also tabbed the game-winning RBI in the season-opening victory.

WWU (1-1) returns to action with a pair of games in the Desert Stinger on Saturday, facing Stanislaus State at 11:30 am and No. 23 UC San Diego at 2 pm. The Vikings conclude their five-game Desert Stinger schedule on Sunday facing 10th-ranked Concordia-Irvine (1-1) at 2 pm.

WWU 8, Cal State Dominguez Hills 0 Box Score | Game Book

Senior starting pitcher Makinlee Sellevold fired a 3-hit shutout in her third career Opening Day start to and plated the game-winnings runs as the Vikings opened the season with a 8-0 victory over Cal State Dominguez Hills in a run-rule-shortened 5-inning game.

The game was scoreless through the first four innings, before the Vikings unloaded for seven hits in the bottom of the 5th inning to end the game.

Kira Doan, Seli Aholelei and Mackenzie Palmer ignited the 5th-inning rally with three consecutive singles to open the frame, with Sellevold delivering a two-run single through the right side for the only runs WWU would need. Emily Benson, Jackie Lucido and Doan added run-scoring hits in the inning.

Sellevold (1-0) improved to 3-0 in her three career Opening Day starts, limiting the Toros to only three baserunners in her 5.0 innings of work. The performance marked her 41st career complete game (5th in WWU history) and 5th career shutout (tied for 12th).

The Vikings recorded 11 hits – all singles – and were led by multi-hit games from Benson (2-for-3, R, RBI), Lucido (2-for-3, RBI) and Doan (2-for-3, R, RBI). The Vikings were 6-for-11 with runners in scoring position.

The Vikings threatened in the bottom of the 2nd inning loading the bases, on three singles, but couldn’t push home a run when Doan fouled out to the catcher to end the scoring opportunity.

Sellevold wiggled out of a jam in the top of the 5th inning, stranding a leadoff extra-base hit on third base to keep the game scoreless.

CSUDH’s Jessica Olivera (1-1) was saddled with the loss allowing 4 runs and 4 hits her short relief outing (0.1 IP). Center fielder Amanda Canizales went 2-for-2 with a pair of doubles to account for two of the Toro’s three hits off Sellevold.

 

Chico State 12, Western Washington 2 Box Score | Game Book

The No. 7 nationally-ranked Chico State Wildcats used an eight-run 4th inning to power past Western Washington 12-2 in a run-rule-shortened five-inning game to close out the first day of the Desert Stinger.

WWU led 2-1 through the first three innings, but Chico capitalized on three Viking fielding errors and sent x batters to the plate in the big 4th inning.

Chico State (2-0) struck first in the top of the 2nd inning when starting pitcher Naomi Monahan led off with a solo home run to left field.

The Vikings pulled even in the bottom of the 2nd on a run-scoring single by Jackie Lucido and pulled ahead in the 3rd inning scoring a run on three consecutive two-out fielding errors by the Wildcats.

Chico State, the 2018 NCAA II West Region Champion, tied things up on three walks and a fielder’s choice in the top of the 4th inning, and then added seven more runs in the inning to take a 9-2 lead. A pair of fielding errors by freshman third baseman Brooke Fesenbek, and three total errors in the inning, accounted for six unearned runs in the inning.

Senior starting pitcher Makinlee Sellevold (1-1) was saddled with the loss allowing 8 runs (3 ER) and 6 walks in 3.2 innings. Kira Doan pitched the remainder of the game allowing 4 hits and 4 runs (3 ER) in 1.1 innings.

WWU was limited to 4 hits by Chico State starter Naomi Monahan (1-0), who went 15-1 for the Wildcats last season. Sophomore right fielder Mackenzie Palmer went 1-for-3 with a double for WWU’s first extra-base hit of the season.