LACEY, Wash. – The No. 16 nationally-ranked Western Washington University softball team had its perfect start to the 2024 season come to an end with a 2-1 loss Saturday against Western Oregon.
WWU opened the season with 13 consecutive wins to set the program and GNAC record for best undefeated start to the season. The Vikings also tied their program record for longest overall winning streak.
WOU scored a pair of runs in the sixth inning off WWU starter Joie Baker, after not registering a hit through the first five innings.
The Vikings put the potential tying run in scoring position in the bottom of the 7th inning, but WOU starter Alivia Holden sealed the win getting a foul out and ground out to end the game for the complete-game effort. WWU left 12 runners on base and went 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
WWU's lone run came of the game in the bottom of came in the bottom of the 3rd inning when shortstop Hailey Rath led off with a triple to right-center field and scored on the play on a throwing error.
Baker was brilliant through the first five innings not allowing a hit, but was touched for four hits in the 6th inning to drop to 3-1 on the season. Rath went 2-for-3 with her second triple of the season to lead WWU at the plate.
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WOU 2, #16 WWU 1 (Feb. 24, 2024 at Saints Field)
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Score by Innings
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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R
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H
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E
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LOB
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Record
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Western Oregon
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0
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0
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0
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0
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0
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2
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0
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-
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2
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4
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3
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7
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5-7
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Western Washington
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0
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0
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1
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0
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0
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0
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0
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-
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1
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6
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0
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12
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13-1
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WOU – Holden and Smalley
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WWU – Baker, Kong (7) and Andrewjeski
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Win: Holden (3-1) Save: None Loss: Baker (3-1)
WWU HR: None WOU HR: None
Time of Game: 2:07 Att: 137
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The Vikings (13-1, 0-0 GNAC) returns home next weekend hosting Simon Fraser University in a four-game non-conference series ta Viking Field, with 11 am doubleheaders scheduled for Saturday and Sunday. The complete 2024 WWU Softball schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com.
BEST STARTS & WINNING STREAKS
The 13-0 start entered the record books as the best undefeated start in the 32-year history of the program, and also the best winning streak by a GNAC program to start a season. WWU passed the 12-0 perfect start by the 2011 team that finished 36-16 to earn a spot in the NCAA II West Regional Championships. The 13-game winning streak also matched the program record set in 2001.
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LONGEST WWU WINNING STREAKS
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Rk
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Streak
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Dates
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1.
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13
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Feb, 2-23, 2024
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13
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Mach 28-April 18, 2001
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3.
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12
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February 11-March 9, 2011
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12
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April 23-May 11, 2017
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5.
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11
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April 14-25, 1998
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11
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April 22-May 2, 2007
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7.
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10
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April 20-May 4, 1996
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10
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April 8-18, 1999
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9.
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7
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April 18-May 2, 1997
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7
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April 18-25, 2002
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7
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February 23-March 9, 2019
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7
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March 22-April 1, 2022
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Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2024 season:
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RECORD BREAKDOWN
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Overall
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13-1
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GNAC
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0-0
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Non-Conference
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13-1
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Streak
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L1
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Home
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2-0
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Away
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5-0
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Neutral
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6-1
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vs. Ranked Teams
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1-0
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1-Run Games
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6-1
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2-Run Games
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1-0
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Extra Innings
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3-0
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Shutouts
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0-0
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BY UNIFORM
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Black
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4-0
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Blue/White
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3-0
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Navy
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0-0
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Gray
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3-0
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White/Navy
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3-1
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Gray/Blue
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0-0
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