BELLIGHAM, WA --- The Simon Fraser Softball team began GNAC play at Viking Field on Friday afternoon with a double-header set against the Western Washington Vikings. SFU took the first matchup by a final score of 7-6, but dropped the second in low scoring fashion, falling 1-0.
Game one at Viking field started off as a low-scoring affair, but the 5th inning saw both team opening things up, as Simon Fraser scored five runs and WWU scored three. Key to Simon Fraser's success in the inning was a 2 RBI double from
Chelsea Hotner, as well as a sacrifice fly from
Amanda Janes. The game went to extras after the score remained tied at six at the end of the seventh, and
Hanna Finkelstein hit a single which propelled SFU to a one run victory. In the circle,
Anissa Zacharczuk picked up her 6th win of the season, pitching all eight innings with two walks and two strikeouts as she maintains an ERA of 3.23.
In game two of the matchup, neither team was able to find any success offensively until the final moment of the game. Both pitchers went the distance, and SFU's
Julia Hansen put together six full innings recording five strikeouts and only allowing six hits.
Alex Ogg,
Hannah Boulanger and
Kate Fergusson were the only three Simon Fraser players to record hits, although SFU did reach base on balls four times. After the game went scoreless to the bottom of the seventh, Chantelle Shimabukuro hit a lined double to left field which would score a WWU runner as the home team would secure a split of the day in walk-off fashion.
Going 1-1 on the day, Simon Fraser moves to 1-1 in GNAC play, and 7-5 overall.
Head coach
Tina Andreana was encouraged with her teams performance.
"Great team win to start off conference play. With some comeback clutch hits, and some great defensive plays all day. Anissa and Julia were both very dominant in the circle. So we will be looking to come out strong on Sunday"
Up next, Simon Fraser will host Western Washington at Beedie Field for their first home games of the regular season at 12:00 and 2:00pm on March 1st.