BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team split its Saturday doubleheader vs. Simon Fraser University to clinch a 3-1 win in the four-game series in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

After winning a pair of games vs. the Red Leafs on Thursday, WWU went up 3-0 in the series with a 2-1 victory in Saturday's first game at Viking Field. SFU salvaged the series with an 8-0 run-rule victory in the nightcap.

With the doubleheader split the Vikings are 11-9 overall through the first 20 games of the season and off to a 3-1 start to the conference season. SFU moved to 6-16 overall and 1-3 in league play.

WWU's offense combined to record only six hits in the two games, but received another big pitching performance from senior Mareena Ramirez in the first game. Ramirez struck out eight batters, did not issue a walk and allowed just one unearned run to earn the win improving to 8-2 on the season.

Seniors Taylor Khorrami (2-for-4) and Kinzey Williams (2-for-5) each recorded a pair of hits in the doubleheader.

The Vikings (11-9, 3-1 GNAC) continue GNAC play next week taking to the road for a four-game series vs. in-state rival Central Washington University, with doubleheaders scheduled for Saturday (March 18) and Sunday (March 19). Both days will feature a noon start to the doubleheaders at Gary & Bobbi Fredrick Field on the CWU campus in Ellensburg.

The Vikings rode another strong pitching performance from Mareena Ramirez to a 2-1 victory over SFU.

Ramirez struck out eight batters, did not issue a walk and allowed just one unearned run while recording the complete-game victory. 

SFU pushed across the first run of the game in the top of the 3rd inning on a two-out error by WWU first baseman Brooke Fesenbek. The Vikings answered with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning to take the 2-1 lead. Taylor Khorrami scored the tying run on a fielding error by the SFU third baseman and Isabel Cargill drove in the eventual game-winning run with a two-out sacrifice fly to center field.

Ramirez would handle the rest retiring 12 of the final 14 batters she faced to secure the victory improving to 8-2 on the season.

Looking for its first win of the series, SFU got off to a quick start with three runs in the top of the 1st inning in Saturday's second game.

Third baseman Cassidy Affeldt hit a two-run home run over the left field fence in the opening frame to stake the Red Leafs to the early lead. SFU would add five more runs in the top of the 4th inning to grow the lead to 8-0. Center fielder Megan Duclos provided the big hit with a bases-loaded triple down the left field line.

WWU freshman starting pitcher Alexis Slater (1-3) was touched for nine hits and eight runs in 3.0+ innings. Reliver Hanako Hirai allowed just one hit retiring six of seven batters faced in 2.0 innings with three strikeouts.

WWU was limited to three hits by SFU starter Julia Hansen (1-2), with senior center fielder Taylor Khorrami going 2-for-2 with a stolen base.

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).