NAMPA, Idaho – The Western Washington University softball team split its Great Northwest Athletic Conference doubleheader at Northwest Nazarene University Saturday, winning the first game 5-2 and dropping the night cap 9-1.

WWU went 1-3 vs. the Nighthawks in the four-game conference series at Halle Field on the NNU campus, opening the Friday-Saturday series with a pair of tight one-run defeats.

The Vikings remain in fourth place in the GNAC with a 7-9 league record and are 18-19 overall heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. The top four teams in the GNAC standings at the end of the season advance to play in the GNAC Championships Tournament May 4-6 in Burnaby, B.C. NNU remained in the top spot in the GNAC standings improving to 22-14 overall and 10-2 in conference play.

Led by a single-game career-high four RBI from second baseman Kanilehua Pitoy and another pitching gem by Mareena Ramirez, the Vikings opened the day with a 5-2 victory over the Nighthawks

The Vikings got off to a quick start scoring a pair of runs in the top of the 1st inning, with Pitoydriving in both runs with a two-out double to left-center field. WWU's opening at-bat was extended by a two-out fielding error by the NNU second baseman.

The Nighthawks got a run back on a leadoff solo home run Clarissa Moreno and the tying run crossed home plate in the bottom of the 3rd inning on a wild pitch.

WWU forged ahead in the 5th inning on a run-scoring groundout by Isabel Cargill. Brooke Fesenbek and Pitoy set up the go-ahead run with singles.

The Vikings added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the 6th inning with Pitoy again providing the big hit with a two-out, two-run single to right-center field.

Pitoy finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and Fesenbek was 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Left fielder McKenna Crum (2-for-3) and designated player Kinzey Williams also recorded multi-hit games as the Vikings out-hit the Nighthawks 11-5.

Ramirez notched her league-leading 13th victory to improve to 13-5 on the season, striking out six and walking six in the complete-game effort.

NNU ace Sidney Booth (12-7) was touched for five runs (3 ER), walking four and striking out three. The 11 hits allowed were a season high for the left-hander.

WWU dropped the series finale 9-1 in a run-rule-shortened six innings.

After the Vikings stranded the bases loaded in the top of the 2nd inning, NNU took advantage scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the 3rd inning to take a 2-0 lead. Maia McNicoll drove in both runs with a double down the right field line that just eluded a diving Isabel Cargill.

WWU cut into the deficit answering with a run in the top of the 4th inning on a two-out RBI single through the left side of the infield by McKenna Crum. Cargill started the rally with a one-out double to the base of the center field fence.

The Nighthawks wouldn't let the Vikings get any closer scoring four runs in the bottom of the 4th inning, with Clarissa Moreno providing the big hit with a three-run home run to center field for her second home run of the day and third of the season. NNU walked it off with three runs in the bottom of the 6th inning to invoke the eight-run rule.

WWU starting pitcher Joie Baker (2-4) suffered the loss allowing six runs in 3.1 innings. Reliever Hanako Hirai finished the game in the circle for the Vikings.

NNU starter Tori Hensley (10-5) earned the win allowing just one run and five hits in 5.0 innings before turning the game over to the Nighthawk bullpen. McNicoll went 2-for-3 with four RBI to pace the NNU offense and Moreno was 1-for-1 with the three-run home run and three walks.

WWU (18-19, 7-9 GNAC) remain on the road next weekend with a four-game GNAC series at Saint Matin's University in Lacey, with doubleheaders on Saturday (1 pm) and Sunday (12 pm) at Saints Field. Both days will feature live coverage with a YouTube webcast and live statistical updates, with direct links found at wwuvikings.com/Live.

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

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).