BELLINGHAM, Wash. – Coming off a solid season-opening tournament performance in Southern California, the Western Washington University softball returns to action this weekend with a Saturday doubleheader at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

 

WWU went 3-2 at the CUI Kickoff Classic, opening the 20-team tournament with a pair of losses against nationally-ranked teams, and finished with three consecutive wins.

 

Through the first five games of the season, the Vikings lead all GNAC teams with a 1.16 ERA (6 ER, 36.1 IP) and rank second with a .980 fielding percentage (3 E, 148 TC).

 

Saturday's non-conference doubleheader at UBC is scheduled to start at noon at Collings Field at Nobel Park. A live webcast and live statistical updates will be available for both games with links available at wwuvikings.com/Live.

 

Following the short trip over the border, the Vikings will travel to Hawai'i for six games on O'ahu, with doubleheaders against Hawai'i Pacific, Hawai'i Hilo and Chaminade. WWU's first home games are scheduled for February 24-25 at Viking Field, hosting Northwest Nazarene in a pair of non-conference doubleheaders. 

 

The complete 2023 WWU Softball schedule can be found online at wwuvikings.com/SB_23, complete with information on how to follow Team 31 on the road and in home games with direct links to available webcasts and live stats.

 

Here is a look at the Vikings schedule this weekend with Saturday's non-conference doubleheader at UBC scheduled to start at noon. A webcast and live stats are planned to be provided by UBC, but  please check wwuvikings.com/Live for the up-to-date schedule and live links on how to follow WWU Softball online:

 

 

Starting pitcher Mareena Ramirez made her WWU debut in style, earning a spot on the CUI Kickoff Classic All-Tournament Team and being selected as the GNAC Pitcher of the Week. The Idaho State transfer appeared in three games (2 starts), going 2-0 with a 0.32 ERA (1 ER, 21.2 IP) with 26 strikeouts. In her Viking debut against No. 19 CUI, Ramirez struck out 13 batters in 9.0 scoreless innings, tying for the 10th-most strikeouts in a game in program history.

 

WWU is 2-1 all-time vs. UBC, with the Vikings and Thunderbirds splitting a doubleheader to open the 2020 season. The Vikings dropped the opener 4-1 and responded with a 4-0 shutout victory in the nightcap. Only other meeting between the two schools was a 5-3 WWU victory on February 21, 2013.

 

Saturday's trip to play UBC marks the first of hopefully times the Vikings will cross the border to play games this season. In addition to playing the Thunderbirds in a doubleheader Saturday, the Vikings are scheduled to play a "non-conference" doubleheader at Simon Fraser in Burnaby on March 5. The top four teams in the conference standings at the end of the regular season will qualify for the GNAC Championships that will be hosted May 4-6 at SFU.

 

Here is a look at the GNAC Softball team records following the opening week of the 2023 season:

 

 

Here is more information on the Vikings heading into Saturday's doubleheader at UBC:

 

·         The Record – 3-2 with current 3-game winning streak…3-1 in neutral site games and 0-1 away.

·         Gold Gloves – Through first 5 games maintained .980 fielding pct., making 3 errors in 148 total chances…led the GNAC last season and ranked 33rd in NCAA II with a .969 fielding pct.

·         In the Circle – WWU leads the GNAC and ranks 14th in NCAA II with 1.16 ERA…35th with 1.18 WHIP.

·         Williams At Bat – Senior Kinzey Williams leads the Vikings batting .500 (9-for-18) with two runs scored.

·         GWRBI – Sophomore Kanilehua Pitoy leads the team with a pair of GWRBI and three total RBI.

·         The Head Coach – Sheryl Gilmore is in her fifth season as the WWU head coach…owns 92-70 (.568) record at the helm of the Vikings.

·         Team 31 – 2023 is the 31st season in program history…WWU has an all-time record of 725-599-1 (.548).

 

Here is a complete look at the 2023 GNAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll:

 

 

Up-to-date season information, including season statistics, bios, roster, schedule and historical information can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com/Softball. WWU Softball also has a strong social media presence on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, so give them a follow!

 

The WWU softball program enters its 31st season in 2023. WWU advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships for the fifth time in program history in 2021 after winning the GNAC Tournament. WWU has posted a winning record 19 times during the 30-year history of the program, which won the 1998 NAIA National Championship in only its sixth season to record the school's first ever team national title. During the nine-season span from 2014-2022, the Vikings have combined to go 224-172 and won a pair of GNAC Tournament titles (2017 & 2021).