YAKIMA, Wash. – With the postseason quickly approaching, the Western Washington University softball team picked up a pair of wins in a doubleheader sweep over Montana State Billings Saturday at Kiwanis Park at the Gateway Sports Complex.

With unfavorable weather in the weekend forecast for Bellingham, the four-game GNAC series was moved across the state to Yakima to ensure these games during get played during the penultimate week of conference play. WWU defeated MSUB 4-2 in the opening game and 7-3 in the nightcap to improve to 21-20 overall and jumped into fourth place in the GNAC standings at 10-10. MSUB slipped to 8-10 in league play (5th place) and 16-24 overall.

Junior right fielder Isabel Cargill paced the Vikings offense Saturday combining to go 7-for-8 with a double and two RBI in two games. Senior first baseman Brooke Fesenbek went 5-for-8 and freshman shortstop Hailey Rath led all Vikings with three RBI. Overall the Vikings were clutch going 9-for-26 (.346) with runners in scoring position and 2-for-4 with the bases loaded. 

WWU's pitching duo of senior Mareena Ramirez and sophomore Joie Baker each recorded complete-game victories. In addition to allowing just five runs (2 ER) and seven hits in the doubleheader, Ramirez and Baker buckled down when it mattered holding MSUB to 2-for-15 with runners on base.

The four-game series between the Vikings and Yellowjackets is scheduled to conclude Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 10 am at Kiwanis Park in Yakima. Both games will feature a free webcast streamed on Facebook and live statistical updates, with direct links available at wwuvikings.com/Live.

The Vikings jumped out to a 4-0 lead and never looked back while riding another complete-game pitching performance from senior Mareena Ramirez.

WWU got off to a good start with senior Kinzey Williams opening the scoring on a RBI single to shortstop, with another run scoring on the play on an error. 

Right fielder Isabel Cargill drove in two more runs to stake the Vikings to a 4-0 lead with a two-run double to the left field gap in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

MSUB got a pair of runs back in the top of the 6th inning, both unearned to Ramirez, but would not pull any closer in the 4-2 final. Ramirez worked a 1-2-3 top of the 7th inning to improve to 14-6 on the season tying for the 8th-most wins in a single season in the 31-year history of WWU softball. Ramirez struck out eight and did not walk a batter while logging her 13th complete game of the season.

Cargill and senior first baseman Brooke Fesenbek each finished 3-for-4 and junior center fielder Taylor Khorrami was 2-for-2 with a sacrifice bunt to lead WWU at the plate.

MSUB starter Alyssa Etheridge was saddled with the loss allowing 12 hits and four runs in 6.0 innings.

WWU secured the doubleheader sweep with a 7-3 win in the nightcap, out-hitting MSUB 12-3 in the second game. 

The Yellowjackets took the early lead with a run off Western starter Joie Baker in the top of the 2nd inning, but the Vikings answered in a big way with four two-out runs in the bottom of the 2nd. Sophomore second baseman Kanilehua Pitoy sparked the rally with a two-run single to right field and run-scoring singles by Hailey Rath and Brooke Fesenbek followed to grow the lead to 4-1.

MSUB pulled to within one run with a pair of runs in the top of the 5th inning, but WWU fought off the comeback attempt with three runs in the bottom of the 6th to put the game away. Rath provided two big runs with a double to deep center field and sophomore third baseman Amaya Davis added an insurance run with a sacrifice fly to center field.

Baker evened her season record at 4-4 on the season allowing just three hits and three runs (2 ER) in the complete-game effort. The right-hander struck out a pair and walked five.

MSUB starter Julia Qualteri took the loss allowing 12 hits and seven runs (6 ER) in 6.0 innings. 

WWU (21-20,10-10 GNAC) close out the four-game series vs. Montana State Billings in Yakima on Sunday, with the doubleheader scheduled to start at 10 am at Kiwanis Park. A short Senior Day ceremony will be held prior to the game for WWU's five-player senior class. A live webcast on Facebook and live statistical updates will be provided with direct links found at wwuvikings.com/Live.

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2023 season:

Here is a look at the updated GNAC standings through games played on Saturday, with WWU in 4th place with four conference games remaining. The top four teams in the standings at the completion of the regular season advance to play in the GNAC Championships May 4-6 in Burnaby, B.C.