Emily Benson recorded her second consecutive multi-HR game and has hit 7 HR over her last 6 games. PHOTO: WWU Athletics
Benson Sets WWU RBI Record in Loss at Sonoma State
March 27, 2019
SANTA ROSA, Calif. – Western Washington University senior first baseman Emily Benson went 2-for-2 with a pair of home runs and became WWU’s all-time RBI leader, but it wasn’t enough as the Vikings dropped a non-conference game to Sonoma State 9-4 on Wednesday afternoon at Santa Rosa Junior College.
Benson became WWU’s all-time RBI leader with 146 in her four-year career, passing the 145 RBI by Alexie Levin (2013-16). Benson has recorded multi-homer games in back-to-back contests and has tied her own single-season home run record with 12 on the season, including seven over the last six games. Her 43 career home runs are No. 2 on the all-time in Great Northwest Athletic Conference history, two behind leader Jessica Hallmark (Western Oregon, 2008-11).
The Vikings were cooled off having their four-game winning streak snapped, having entered the contest winning 12 of their last 15 games. WWU is now 17-9 overall heading into the final five non-conference games of the season this weekend at the Tournament of Champions in Turlock, California.
Sonoma State improved to 16-9 on the season with its sixth consecutive victory.
The Seawolves got off to a quick start scoring four runs in the bottom of the 1st inning and led 7-1 after the 2nd inning. WWU cut into the deficit with a Kira Doan sacrifice fly in the top of the 2nd inning, but SSU added to its lead with a 3-run home run by designated player Jordann White in the bottom of the inning after a foul ball fell between Benson and Doan, extending the inning.
Benson made it a 7-3 game with a 2-run home run to center field in the top of the 3rd inning and added a solo home run in the top of the 5th inning to complete the scoring for the Vikings.
Junior center fielder Jackie Lucido added a multi-hit game going 2-for-3 with a double for the Vikings. Three of WWU’s seven hits went for extra bases, who had its string of seven consecutive games with double-digits in hits snapped.
White led the Seawolves at the plate going 3-for-3 with 2 doubles, a home run, 4 runs scored and 4 RBI. Shortstop Cassidy Romano and catcher Megan Ambriz added 3-hit games as SSU doubled-up WWU 14-7 in the hits column.
SSU senior pitcher Brielle Vidmar improved to 9-3 on the season notching the complete-game victory. The right-hander scattered 7 hits and allowed 4 runs in 7.0 innings. She struck out a pair and walked three batters in her 12th start of the season.
WWU senior starter Makinlee Sellevold allowed 11 hits and 7 runs (4 ER) in 3.0 innings to record the loss, falling to 11-7 on the season. Senior Shearyna Labasan came on in relief and allowed 2 runs and 3 hits in 3.0 innings. The 14 hits allowed were the 2nd-most by a WWU opponent this season.
The Vikings return to action this weekend with five games in the 18th Annual Tournament of Champions in Turlock, California. WWU plays Cal State San Bernardino and Azusa Pacific in the first day of the tournament.
RBI RECORD HOLDER
Emily Benson became WWU’s all-time RBI leader on Wednesday, tallying three RBI while going 2-for-2 with a pair of home runs in the loss at Sonoma State. Benson now has 146 career RBI, passing the 145 recorded by Alexie Levin from 2013-16. Benson is now tied for 10th in GNAC history in career RBI.
SINGLE-SEASON HOME RUNS
Emily Benson has tied her single-season home run mark with 12, the third time in her career to hit 12 home runs in a season (and there is a lot of the season left to play). The GNAC single-season record is 21 home runs set by Central Washington’s Kelsey Haupert in 2011. Here is a look at the top home run hitting seasons in program history.
GNAC HOME RUNS
Emily Benson hit a pair of home runs at Sonoma State on Wednesday, her second straight multi-home run game and the fourth of her career. Benson now has 12 home runs on the season to lead the GNAC and rank amongst the nation’s leaders. Benson now has 43 career home runs, extending her WWU record, and second-most in conference history in home runs, two short of the all-time record of 45 set by Jessica Hallmark of Western Oregon (2008-11).
UP NEXT FOR THE VIKS
WWU (17-9, 11-3 GNAC) return to play this weekend with five games in the 18th Annual Tournament of Champions presented by the City of Turlock. The Vikings open the Tournament of Champions on Friday with games against Cal State San Bernardino at 9 am (Pedretti Sports Complex) and Azusa Pacific at 11:30 am (Warrior Field). Information on the Tournament of Champions hosted by Stanislaus State University can be found online at WarriorAthletics.com/TOC.
