BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 18 nationally-ranked Western Washington University softball team continued its undefeated start to the season recording a pair of wins over the University of British Columbia Saturday in the 2024 home opener at Viking Field to improve to 11-0 on the season.

 

WWU defeated UBC 4-3 in walk-off fashion in the opening game and completed the doubleheader sweep with a 7-3 victory in the nightcap.

 

The 11-0 start to the season is the second-best undefeated start in program history trailing only a 12-0 start by the 2011 Vikings and the 11-game winning streak is tied for the 4th-longest in the 32 seasons of WWU Softball.

 

Freshman pitcher Kaiana Kong had a part of both wins in the circle, earning a win in the first game to improve to 5-0 on the season and retired all six batters she faced in the second game to earn her first collegiate save. 

 

Freshman third baseman Maleah Andrews combined to go 4-for-5 with three walks in the doubleheader to extend her hitting streak to nine consecutive games.

 

The Vikings take their perfect 11-0 record on the road next week with a pair of non-conference doubleheaders vs. GNAC programs, facing Saint Martin's on Friday (Feb. 23) and Western Oregon on Saturday (Feb. 24) with both doubleheaders at Saints Field in Lacey.
 

 

 

The Vikings opened the doubleheader with a 4-3 walk-off victory to improve to 10-0 on the season.

 

With two outs and runners on second and third base, freshman Maleah Andrews drew a walk and on the play a wild pitch plated the game-winning run.

 

WWU got on the scoreboard first with a run in the bottom of the 4th inning on a sacrifice fly to center field by Hailey Rath. 

 

UBC scored three runs in the top of the 5th inning to take a 3-1 lead, with Keona Nordquist driving in a pair with a triple to right field.

 

The Vikings answered with two runs in the bottom of the 5th inning to tie the game 3-3 with McKenna Crum driving in a run on a single and the tying run scoring on a fielding error on the play. 

 

Freshman Kaiana Kong pitched 2.0 scoreless innings in relief to earn the win improving to 5-0 on the season. Kong has not allowed a run in 14.1 consecutive scoreless innings. Junior starting pitcher Joie Baker recorded a no-decision allowing four hits and three runs in 5.0 innings.

 

Andrews went 2-for-3 with a run scored to extend her hitting streak to eight consecutive games.

 

 

 

The Vikings closed out the doubleheader sweep with a 7-3 victory in the second game, overcoming an early 2-0 deficit to record their 11th consecutive win to open the season.

 

Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the 3rd inning, senior first baseman Ashley Jacobson cleared the bases with a three-run double to right field to give the Vikings a 3-2 lead. WWU added a run in the 4th inning on a squeeze bunt by senior center fielder Taylor Khorrami.

 

UBC closed back to within one run in the 5th inning, but freshman starter Alli Kimball stranded the potential tying run at third base.

 

Western added three insurance runs in the bottom of the 6th inning on a RBI double by senior catcher Emily Paulson, a run-scoring groundout by pinch-hitter Emma Andrewjeski and a two-out double to left-center field by freshman Emily McCutcheon.

 

Freshman relief pitcher Kaiana Kong retired all six batters she faced to record her first collegiate save, extending her streak of consecutive scoreless pitching innings to 16.1. Kimball improved to 4-0 on the season earning the win allowing six hits and three runs (22 ER) in 5.0 innings. Kimball struck out four and walked one batter.

 

Freshman third baseman Maleah Andrews finished 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and a run scored to extend her hitting streak to nine consecutive games. Junior Riley Anderson went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

 

 

The Vikings (11-0) are back on the road next week for a pair of non-conference doubleheaders against GNAC opponents, playing Saint Martin's (Friday, Feb. 23) and Western Oregon (Saturday, Feb. 24), with all four games at Saints Field in Lacey.. The complete 2024 WWU Softball schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com.

Through the first 11 games of the season, the Vikings pitchers have posted a 1.88 ERA (22 ER, 82.0 IP). Kaiana Kong (5-0, 0.66, 1 SV), Alli Kimball (4-0, 1.97) and Joie Baker (2-0, 2.49) have combined to form one of the best early-season pitching performances in the nation.

The 11-0 start is the second-best undefeated start to a season in the 32-year history of the program. The 2011 Vikings got off to a 12-0 start on the way to a 36-16 record and a trip to the NCAA II West Regional Championships. The current 11-game winning streak is tied for 4th-longest in program history.

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2024 season: