BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team closes out its season-opening California road trip with five scheduled games in the North Bay Challenge.

 

WWU is coming off an impressive start to the 2024 season going 4-0 at the CUI Kickoff Classic to earn the tournament team title. The Vikings were scheduled to have two games Tuesday at Biola, but both games were washed out due to heavy rain in Southern California.

 

The Vikings five-game schedule in Northern California includes one game in Santa Rosa and four games in San Rafael. The nine-team, 18-game tournament is being co-hosted by Dominican University and Sonoma State University.

 

WWU's schedule at the North Bay Challenge includes games against Dominican (Thursday, 12 pm), Sonoma State (Friday, 10 am), Cal State Monterey Bay (Friday, 3 pm), Chico State (Saturday, 10 am) and Cal State Monterey Bay (Saturday, 12:30 pm).

 

The Vikings wasted no time getting started in the 2024 season, going 4-0 at the CUI Kickoff Classic including a win over top-15 ranked Concordia Irvine. Western out-hit opponents 41-29 and recorded a 25-11 advantage in runs scored. Senior Ashley Jacobson, who transferred to WWU from Stony Brook, went 8-for-14 (.571) which led the team in the tournament.

 

The Vikings started the tournament with a close 6-5 win over San Francisco State, junior McKenna Crum recorded the game-winning hit with an RBI single in the bottom of the 6th inning. The Vikings followed this win up with a 5-inning 9-1 victory over Stanislaus State, where sophomore Hailey Rath went 3-3 with 3 RBIs.

 

WWU stayed red-hot by taking down Cal State Monterey Bay 7-3, where junior pitcher Joie Bakerthrew a complete game through 7 innings, earning her first win of 2024. The Vikings fought hard for a 3-2 12-inning win over No. 14 Concordia Irvine. Baker through 9 shutout innings against the tournament hosts, while freshman Alli Kimball finished the last 3.0 innings to earn her third win of the tournament.

 

WWU entered the 2024 season picked to finish second in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, coming off a 26-23 campaign in 2023. The Vikings have advanced to each of the last three GNAC Championship tournaments and placed third in the regular-season standings the last three years, reaching the conference championship game last season. The Vikings were conference tournament champions in 2017 and 2021, advancing to the NCAA Championships in each season.

 

The 2024 schedule features a 51-game regular-season slate with 24 games in GNAC play and 27 non-conference games. Following the shortened nine-game trip to California, the Vikings return to the Northwest for a non-conference doubleheader hosting the University of British Columbia in the home opener on Saturday, February 17 at Viking Field. WWU is scheduled to begin its GNAC season on March 15 at home against defending conference champion Northwest Nazarene.

 

The complete 2024 WWU Softball schedule can be found online at wwuvikings.com/SB_24complete with information on how to follow the team on the road and in home games with direct links to available webcasts and live stats.

 

Here is a detailed look at WWU's five-game schedule at the North Bay Challenge hosted by Sonoma State and Dominican. A very informative tournament website is available at SonomaSeawolves.com, which includes important fan information in regards to field locations. All games will feature live statistical updates online with links listed below:

 

The Vikings offense had no trouble getting started in the opening tournament, recording 41 hits in four games. Senior infielder Ashley Jacobson led the charge going 8-for-14 (.571) while hitting a double and a home run with 2 RBIs. As a team, the Vikings are batting .315 through the opening tournament (41-for-130) including 8 extra base hits (2B-3, 3B-2, HR-3).

 

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

 

 

Freshman pitcher Alli Kimball started off her career at Western with three wins in her first three collegiate appearances at the CUI Kickoff Classic. Kimball recorded 9.2 innings pitched, allowing eight hits and a walk while striking out three. Kimball threw a complete game win against Stanislaus State, going 5.0 innings in the 9-1 win.  

 

Reigning GNAC Freshman of the Year Hailey Rath has picked up right where she left off after a record-breaking campaign in her first season at Western. Rath went 7-14 (.500) in the CUI Kickoff Classic, recording a team-best four RBI and a triple while also scoring four runs. Rath has recorded a hit in three of four games, and had a personal-best 11-game hitting streak snapped in the third game of the CUI Classic, a streak that went back to the end of the 2023 season. Rath has an active streak of reaching base safely in each of the last 13 games including the 2023 season.

 

Junior pitcher Joie Baker is the Vikings leading pitcher, returning after an injury-shortened 2023 season. Baker made three appearances (all starts) in the CUI Kickoff Classic, pitching in 21.1 innings picking up a 1-0 record. Baker held No. 14 CUI scoreless over the first 9.0 innings of the 3-2 12-inning victory.

The Western Washington University softball team had four players selected to the CUI Kickoff Classic All-Tournament Team helping lead the Vikings to a perfect 4-0 start to the season. Sophomore shortstop Hailey Rath, junior pitcher Joie Baker, senior first baseman Ashley Jacobson and freshman pitcher Alli Kimball each earned a spot on the 24-player All-Tournament team. WWU's four selections equaled Colorado Christian, which also finished with a 4-0 record in the tournament.
 

Here is a look at WWU's all-time record against opponents in the North Bay Challenge:

 

·         Sonoma State: WWU is 10-21 all-time vs. the Seawolves…Won 4-3 in last year's matchup, ending a 5-game losing streak to Sonoma State.

·         Dominican: WWU is 4-0 all-time vs. the Penguins…All four matchups against Dominican have happened on a neutral venue…Won 2-0 in the last matchup.

·         Chico State: Vikings are 12-18 all-time vs. the Wildcats…Vikings have won five of the last eight matchups against Chico State…Won 4-3 in last season's matchup.

·         Cal State Monterey Bay: WWU is 6-8 all-time vs. the Otters…Vikings have won four of the last five meetings against Cal St. Monterey Bay, including 3 in a row…last meeting was a 7-3 WWU win.

 

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!

 

Western Washington University will host the 2024 GNAC softball conference championships at Viking Field between May 2-4. The Vikings have reached the GNAC Championship Game twice in the last three seasons, winning the championship in 2021 and finishing as the runners-up in 2023.

 

Here is a complete look at the 2024 GNAC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll:

 

 

The WWU softball program enters its 32nd season in 2024 while coming off a 26-23 campaign in 2023 while advancing to the GNAC Championships Finals. 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 20 times during the 31-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 2014-2023, the Vikings have combined to go 250-195 and won a pair of GNAC Tournament titles in 2017 & 2021.