LACEY, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team dropped both ends of its non-conference doubleheader Monday at Saint Martin's University.

WWU dropped the opening game 4-3 on a walk-off hit by the Saints and was defeated 7-3 in the nightcap to fall to 8-8 on the season. Both games were considered non-conference contests not counting against the GNAC season standings.

The Vikings combined to tally 18 hits in the doubleheader, but were hurt by five errors and left 15 runners on base. Freshman Hailey Rath hit a solo home run in each game and Taylor Khorrami, Kanilehua Pitoy and Amaya Davis all had three hits.

The Vikings (8-8) are scheduled to officially open GNAC play this weekend with a four-game series hosting Simon Fraser at Viking Field, with doubleheaders Saturday (March 11) and Sunday (March 12) beginning at noon. 

The Vikings built a 3-0 lead through their first three at-bats on a two-out solo homer by Hailey Rathin the 1st inning and a pair of runs in the top of the 3rd inning. 

The Saints got a run back in the bottom of the 3rd inning on a fielding error and tied things up with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 5th inning on a two-run single by Olivia Matlock.

The winning run crossed the plate in the bottom of the 7th inning with one out and the bases loaded on a towering single that nearly left the park for a grand slam by Shelby Lawson.

Maria Ramirez was saddled with just her second loss of the season (6-2) allowing seven hits and four runs (3 ER) in 6.1 innings. Ramirez struck out eight and walked seven while going the distance.

Kanilehua Pitoy went 3-for-4 with a double and Amaya Davis was 2-for-4 with a double.

Abby Runyon (3-1) earned the win scattering nine hits and allowing three runs in the complete-game effort. 

The Vikings fell behind early allowing four runs in the first two innings, proving to be too much to overcome in a 7-3 loss to Saint Martin's in the nightcap.

Left fielder Lexi Barcomb and center fielder Taylor Khorrami each tabbed multi-hit games to lead the Vikings nine-hit offensive performance.

Relief pitcher Alexis Slater was efficient in her 4.1-inning outing, scattering seven hits and allowing two earned runs. Starting pitcher Hanako Hirai (1-2) was saddled with the loss allowing four hits and four runs (1 ER) in 1.2 innings.

Saint Martin's got off to the quick start with a run in the 1st inning and three more in the 2nd to take a 4-0 lead. The Saints added two more runs in the 5th inning and a single tally in the bottom of the 6th.

The Vikings got on the board in the top of the 6th inning on a solo home run to deep center field by Hailey Rath and added two more runs in the top of the 7th inning on singles by Barcomb and Khorrami.

Tia Ridings (5-2) got the win for the Saints with 4.0 scoreless innings and Chloe Leverington recorded her fifth save finishing the final three innings.

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).