Senior Cylie Richards is greeted at home plate after her second home run of the game vs. Azusa Pacific. PHOTO: WWU Athletics
Vikings Go 2-0 During First Day of Tournament of Champions
March 30, 2019
TURLOCK, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team got off to a great start at the 2019 Tournament of Champions, recording a pair of wins to open the weekend tournament in Turlock, California.
WWU defeated Cal State San Bernardino 2-1 in 8 innings in the morning game and came back with a 6-5 win over Azusa Pacific to complete the 2-0 day.
The Vikings are now 19-9 on the season, having won six of their last seven and 14 of their last 18 games.
“Those were both two big team wins with contributions from everybody to make it happen,” said head coach Sheryl Gilmore. “It was great to see our defense really get dialed in and I think the team did a great job of staying in the moment today and fighting for each other.”
Senior shortstop Cylie Richards was the hitting hero of the day, recording a pair of home runs and a career-high 5 RBI in the game vs. Azusa Pacific.
“Cylie has been clutch all season and it was great to see her get those bombs today against Azusa. She deserves it,” said Gilmore. “She’s worked so hard to get to that point with her swing and it’s fun to see her let it fly.”
Junior center fielder Jackie Lucido tabbed the game-winning hit in the top of the 8th inning in the one-run victory over Cal State San Bernardino, a team that has been ranked in the top 20 in the nation this season.
Senior pitcher Makinlee Sellevold recorded her 12th win of the season vs. CSUSB, allowing only one run over 8.0 innings for the complete-game victory. In the game vs. the Coyotes, Sellevold allowed only one hit over her final 5.0 innings of work to keep WWU’s chances of the victory alive.
“Makinlee threw an absolute gem in the first game and really kept us in it with a very good San Bernardino team,” added Gilmore.
Senior first baseman Emily Benson was 3-for-7 on the day, including a 3-for-3 performance with a walk against APU. Benson is now batting a team-high .447 (38-for-85).
Senior Shearyna Labasan picked up the win in the second game to improve to 5-2 on the season, while sophomore Kira Doan wiggled out of a jam in the 7th inning to record her first career save.
UP NEXT FOR THE VIKS
WWU (19-9) will play three more games in the 18th Annual Tournament of Champions presented by the City of Turlock. WWU faces Dominican (4:30 pm) and Cal State Monterey Bay (7 pm) tomorrow, and close out the tournament Sunday against Cal State East Bay (10 am).
TOC HISTORY
This is the 18th Tournament of Champions hosted by Stanislaus State in Turlock, and the Vikings have played in all 18 of the tournaments dating back to the first year in 2002. With today’s two wins, WWU is now 57-52 all-time in the Tournament of Champions, having posted a .500 or better record in the TOC in 10 of the previous 17 tournaments.
-- WWU Softball --
