Western Washington University was defeated 14-3 by unbeaten Sonoma State University in final-day action Sunday, Feb. 12, at the third annual Desert Stinger Softball Tournament held at Las Vegas.
The Vikings finished 2-3 at the tourney and are 2-8 overall. Sonoma State ran its record to 7-0, the best start in school history.
The Seawolves had 10 hits in the game which ended after five innings because of the eight-run mercy rule. Their run total was just one short of the most ever allowed by WWU.
The Vikings scored three runs in the top of the first inning, the big hit a run-scoring double by Jessica Carey. But Sonoma State responded with four in its half of the frame, Vanessa Currie driving in two with a single and Samantha Lepp bringing in two more with a double.
The Seawolves scored seven runs in the second, all but one unearned. Keisi Chinen hit a grand-slam home run over the centerfield fence and Ali Palermo had a solo homer.
Skylynn Myers hit a three-run homer for Sonoma State in the third.
Samantha Lipperd (5-0) pitched four innings to earn the win for the Seawolves.
WWU's top hitters in the three-day tourney were Carey .471 (8-for-17) with three home runs, seven runs batted in and six runs scored; Kaleigh Keating .455 (5-for-11), and Rachelle Berry 438 (7-fo-16).
