April 11, 2008

Box Score

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Western Washington University pitcher Sarah McEnroe (So., Woodinville) made one mistake and it proved costly as the Vikings fell 2-1 to Western Oregon University in the opener of a Great Northwest Athletic Conference softball doubleheader Friday at Viking Field on the WWU campus.

McEnroe, who allowed just five hits, gave up a two-out, two-run homer by Tyler Sutherland on an 0-2 count in the top of the fifth inning.

It was the seventh straight loss for the Vikings, now 16-14 overall and 5-4 league, tying the longest since their inaugural season in 1993. They also dropped seven in a row in 2005.

Western Oregon, which improved to 16-13 overall and 5-4 in GNAC play, got a superb pitching performance from Katie Fleer (9-4), who allowed just two hits, both singles, and one unearned run. She struck out five and walked two.

McEnroe (1-6) had worked out of a one-out, runners on second and third jam in the fourth with two strikeouts. In all, she struck out five and walked two, retiring nine straight during one stretch.

Western Washington, which was opening a 10-game home stand, has now scored just six runs in its last six contests.

The home run by Sutherland was her third of the season and the 19th overall for the Wolves. It came following a two-out single by Shanley Young.

The Vikings' Lisa Pendergrast (Sr., Bow/Burlington-Edison) had a lead-off single in the first and Liza Teicher (Sr., Sammamish/Skyline) singled to lead-off the fourth. Pinch-runner Hilary Cosentino (Fr., Stevenson) stole second and scored on a dropped throw by the first baseman on a grounder to the pitcher by Caitlin Dotlich (Fr., Sedro-Woolley/Burlington-Edison).