LACEY, Wash. - It took three extra innings for Western Washington to overcome Saint Martin's,5-4, in the first game of the 2017 GNAC Softball Tournament.

The Saints (25-18) jumped out to the first lead of the ballgame when starting pitcher Kim Nelson singled to right center, scoring Jackie Schmaeling from third, with two outs in the second inning.

Western Washington (31-17) was held in check through the first three innings by Nelson until shortstop Cyr doubled to left center, scoring Benson and tying the game at 1-1. The Vikings took the lead in the bottom of the fifth on a sacrifice fly by the three hitter Sellevold, scoring one runner.

Saint Martin's capitalized in the sixth inning after lead-off singles from Lindsay Miller and Lauren Diuco and Mary Dettling was hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Schmaeling. Schmaeling drove in two runs, Miller and Diuco, on a single to right center, giving the Saints a 3-2 lead. Corrie Wilson extended the score to 4-2 on a sacrifice fly to right that brought home Dettling. 

The Vikings responded quickly, collecting two runs in the bottom on sixth on RBI singles from Mathis and Labasan, who tied a GNAC tournament record with four hits, to grindlock the score at 4-4 and send the game into extra innings.

Both teams had opportunities to gain an edge, with the Saints leaving a runner in each of the extra innings, and Western Washington stranding the winning run in scoring position in eighth. However, the Vikings successfully converted on the International tiebreaker, which begins in the tenth inning and a runner starts on second, advancing the winning run to third on bunt before a sacrifice fly drove in the game-winning run.

Nelson started the game for the Saints in the circle, going 5.1 innings, allowing four runs, three earned on 10 hits, while striking out two. Lauren Maley (8-4) was called in from the bullpen to relieve the final 4.1 innings, where she allowed one run, unearned on only four hits and punched out one Viking.

"Tough loss today in a good, hard fought game," said head coach Rick Noren. "Jackie Schmaeling had a great day at the plate and Lauren Maley came in and pitched well."

Up Next: The Saints will face the loser of the Central Washington and Western Oregon game, which was halted due to rain in the 3rd inning, on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.