BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 14 nationally-ranked Western Washington University softball team gets back on the road with another trip to California to participate in the Tournament of Champions. The Vikings will play five games over three days in the tournament hosted by Stanislaus State University in Turlock, California.

 

The Vikings are coming off a split series against No. 16 nationally-ranked Northwest Nazarene that showed why both teams are ranked so highly. All four games were within two runs, and three of the games were 1-run wins. The Vikings took game one of both doubleheaders.

 

Junior Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez was the hero to start the series, hitting a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 8th inning to win the opening game of the series, 2-1. That same game saw junior Joie Baker pitch a complete game through 8-innings, allowing just one run on two hits with a season-high nine strikeouts. Baker had thrown a no-hitter through the first five innings of the game.

 

Freshman Maleah Andrews continues to find ways to get on base, reaching base safely in 18 of 21 games this season, including a hit in 16 games. Andrews had a 10-game hit streak from Feb. 3-23, the longest hit streak of the season so far by a Viking. Andrews is also tied for the team in walks with 10 on the season.

 

Senior Ashley Jacobson continues to impress, batting .348 (23-for-66) with seven doubles, five home runs and 14 RBI in the first 21 games. Sophomore Hailey Rath is also excelling at the plate going 25-for-71 (.352) with three doubles, two triples, two home runs and 11 RBI.

 

Andrewjeski-Ramirez leads the team in home runs (8) and RBI (17), while batting 16-for-58 (.276) with a team best slugging percentage of .707.

 

Freshman Kaiana Kong leads the pitching staff going 6-1 with a 0.89 ERA (5 ER, 39.1 IP) and has only allowed three earned runs over her last 34.1 innings. Freshman Alli Kimball (5-2, 2.02 ERA) and Baker(6-1, 2.40) have joined Kong to form one of the best pitching staffs in the nation ranking 21st nationally in team ERA (1.90).

 

Through the first 21 games of the season the Vikings lead the GNAC a fielding percentage of .968, and have recorded a staff ERA of 1.90, good for 2nd best in the GNAC. WWU ranks in the top four of the GNAC for his per game (7.76), doubles (28), triples (5), runs scored (101), slugging percentage (.437), home runs (20), and total bases (261).

 

Here is a look at the Vikings schedule this week as they head off on another California road trip to play in the 2024 Tournament of Champions in Turlock, CA from March 22-24. Three of the five games (those taking place at Warrior Field) will have a webcast that requires payment to watch. Here is the full schedule for the Vikings at the Tournament of Champions:

 

 

Following the 2024 Tournament of Champions, the Vikings will head back home to host GNAC leader Saint Martin's in a 4-game series. The Vikings will then begin their April slate of games with two GNAC road trips, with a 4-game series against each of Simon Fraser and Montana State Billings.

 

WWU has played in every Tournament of Champions hosted by Stanislaus State University since the first tournament in 2002. During the 20-year history of the TOC the Vikings have combined to go 66-56 as the only GNAC team to post a winning record in the tournament. WWU went 3-2 at the TOC last season and was perfect at 5-0 during the 2019 edition of the tournament. Vikings have posted a .500 or better record at the TOC in 13 of the 20 trips to Turlock, including seven of the last eight dating back to the 2014 season. Overall the GNAC has posted a 311-413-1 record at the Tournament of Champions, with WWU, Western Oregon and Central Washington playing in all 20 previous tournaments.

 

A week after playing four games against nationally-ranked Northwest Nazarene (2-2), the Vikings will face another top 20 team this weekend taking on No. 19 Cal State San Marcos on Saturday in the 7 pm game at Warrior Field. WWU is 3-2 against nationally-ranked teams this season.

 

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

 

 

Here is a look at the series history against the five teams WWU will face in the Tournament of Champions:

 

• Academy of Art: WWU leads the all-time series 7-2 vs. the Urban Knights…The Vikings last meeting with Art U was a 14-0 win in 5-innings…Vikings have won three of last four in the series, with all four games being a shutout…seven of nine meetings have been in Turlock…Vikings have outscored the Urban Knights 63-22 across all nine matchups.
• Cal State San Bernardino: WWU leads the all-time series vs. the Coyotes 12-9…the Vikings have won three of the last four meetings…The Coyotes won last season's matchup 4-3 in the Tournament of Champions.
• Cal Poly Humboldt: WWU trails the series 42-13 vs. the Lumberjacks…The Vikings won their last meeting against Humboldt, taking a 4-1 score line in the 2022 TOC…the Vikings have only played the Lumberjacks seven times since 2010, going 2-5 in that span.
• Cal State San Marcos: WWU has only one previous meeting against the Cougars, falling 6-1 on January 31 in 2020.
• San Francisco State: WWU leads the all-time series 14-11 vs the Gators…The Vikings' 2023 season opener was against SFSU in the CUI Kickoff Classic, where the Vikings would win 6-5…the Vikings are 10-6 against the Gators on a neutral field, and have gone 7-4 in their last 11 meetings.

 

The Vikings have recorded 53 extra base hits (2B-28, 3B-5, HR-20) with senior Ashley Jacobson leading the team with 12 extra-base hits through the first 21 games (2B-7, HR-5). Last season, Hailey Rath, set the freshman record for extra base hits by picking up 26 total (2B-17, 3B-2, HR-7), which was one-off the all-time record of 27 set by Emily Benson in 2019.

 

The Vikings have recorded a perfect 9-0 record this season in games played in California. The Vikings went 4-0 during the CUI Kickoff Classic, and 5-0 in the North Bay Challenge. The Vikings have out-scored opponents 51-27 when playing in California.

 

The Vikings have hit 20 home runs through the first 21 games of the season, powered by eight homers by Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez, five homers by Ashley Jacobson, and three by Riley Anderson. The 20 homers are more than the entire season total (10) in 49 games from last season, with Hailey Rath accounting for seven of the team's 10 homers in 2023. Four Vikings have already recorded double-digit RBIs this season: Andrewjeski-Ramirez (17), Ashley Jacobson (14), Riley Anderson (12), and Hailey Rath (11). The 20 home runs rank 2nd-most in the GNAC behind the 31 by Montana State Billings.

 

The Vikings are perfect at 5-0 in true road games this season, while going 11-1 combined when playing away from Bellingham. The 17-4 record also includes a 6-3 record in home games, going 4-3 at Viking Field and 2-0 at Sehome High School. 

 

Three Vikings have recorded a perfect fielding percentage (1.000) this season with a minimum of 10 put-outs. Ashley Jacobson leads the team with 148 put-outs and no errors. Joining Jacobson in perfection is Laila Carpenter and McKenna Crum.  Pitchers Kaiana Kong and Alli Kimball also have perfect fielding percentages with their work within the circle. Overall, the Vikings lead the GNAC with a team fielding percentage of .968, and have committed only two errors over the last six games.

 

Through the first 21 games of the season, the Vikings pitchers have posted a 1.90 ERA (41 ER, 151.0 IP) to rank 2nd in the GNAC and No. 21 in NCAA II. Kaiana Kong (6-1, 0.89, 3 SV), Alli Kimball (5-2, 2.02) and Joie Baker (6-1, 2.40) have combined to form one of the best early-season pitching performances in the nation.

 

The Vikings head into the GNAC-opening weekend ranked No. 14 in the NFCA Division II Coaches Poll, after jumping into the national top 25. This season marks the first time WWU has ranked in program history since 2011. WWU and NNU (No. 16) are both in the national top 25 to mark the first time in recent history to have two conference teams in the top 25.

 

Here is more information on the Vikings heading into the four-game slate this weekend vs. NNU in Bellingham:

 

·         The Record – 17-4 record to open the 2024 season, going 6-3 at home, 5-0 in road games and 6-1 neutral.

·         Perfect Start – Best undefeated start in program history going 13-0 to open the season, breaking the previous record of the 12-0 opening to 2011 season.

·         Top 20 Ranking – Listed No. 14 in NFCA Division II Coaches Poll.

·         Power Surge – Hit 20 home runs in first 21 games, after hitting only 10 in 49 total games in 2023.

·         How to Follow – Home games feature a live and free webcast via Vikings TV and live statistical updates…all WWU games that have live coverage feature links available at wwuvikings.com/Live.

·         Nearly Spotless in the Circle – Kaiana Kong is 6-1 with three saves and has allowed only five earned runs over of 39.1 innings this season. 2nd in the GNAC with a 0.89 ERA which also ranks No. 19 in NCAA II.

·         Hitting Streak – Maleah Andrews recorded a 10-game hitting streak, and in that span batted 15-for-38 with 9 runs scored. Andrews has also reached base safely in 18 of the 21 games this season.

·         Rath Racking – Hailey Rath is batting .352 (25-for-71) this season and is a career .365 (84-for-230) hitter in games during her collegiate career at WWU (2B-20, 3B-4, HR-9, RBI-48).

·         Leading Hitter – Hailey Rath leads the team batting .352 (25-for-71) with 3 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR and 11 RBI.

·         Power Bats – Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez leads the team and is second in the GNAC with 8 homers. Ashley Jacobson (5) and Riley Anderson (3) round out the top three homerun-hitters on the team.

·         Comeback Wins – Have recorded a comeback win in 8 of 17 victories this season.

·         Extra Innings – 4-1 record in extra-inning games, including two wins over nationally-ranked opponents.

·         Silver Sluggers – Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez (.707) and Ashley Jacobson (.682) both ranked in the GNAC top three in slugging percentage.

·         Freshman in the Circle – WWU freshman pitchers Alli Kimball (5-2, 2.02 ERA) and Kaiana Kong (6-1, 3 SV, 0.89 ERA) have combined to go 11-3 this season.

·         Free Admission & Parking – All WWU home games offer free fan admission and there is no charge for parking in the C lots on south campus beginning one hour prior to first pitch.

·         The Head Coach – Sheryl Gilmore is in her sixth season as the WWU head coach…owns 132-95 (.581) record at the helm of the Vikings.

·         Team 32 – 2024 is the 32nd season in program history…WWU has an all-time record of 765-625-1 (.550).

 

The 13-0 start to the season 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.

 

 

Here is a look at the GNAC Player and Pitcher of the Week selections from the 2024 season:

 

 

Here is a look at the GNAC Softball team records and standings for the 2024 season. Saint Martin's leads the conference through the early stage of conference play. Here is the full GNAC Softball Standings:

 

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.
 

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 2024 GNAC Softball Championships will be played May 2-4 at Viking Field on the campus of Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash. The four-team double-elimination tournament will determine the recipient of the conference's automatic berth in the NCAA Championships. The top-four teams in the final GNAC regular-season standings earn berths into the conference tournament. 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 10-season span from 2014-2024, the Vikings have combined to go 265-197 and won a pair of GNAC Tournament titles in 2017 & 2021.