BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 13 nationally-ranked Western Washington University softball team continued its midseason surge recording a doubleheader sweep over Saint Martin's University Friday afternoon at Viking Field.

 

The Vikings extended their winning streak to seven consecutive games with a 2-1 win in 10 innings in the first game and 5-1 in the second game to improve to 24-4 overall and 4-2 in Great Northwest Athletic Conference play.

 

WWU's defense and pitching led the way, with the team not committing an error in the 17 innings of action and the pitching staff allowing just two runs.

 

Freshman Kaiana Kong recorded the win in the circle in the opening game with 6.0 scoreless innings in relief and freshman Alli Kimball won her fourth consecutive decision with a complete-game effort in the nightcap.

 

Junior catcher Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez hit her 10th home run of the season to help lead the Vikings to the win in the second game, while freshman Maleah Andrews delivered the walk-off hit in the bottom of the 10th inning for the 2-1 victory in the opener.

 

The two teams close out the four-game conference series Saturday with first pitch of the doubleheader scheduled for noon at Viking Field.

 

 

The Vikings improved to 5-1 in extra-inning games this season with a 2-1 win over the Saints in Friday's doubleheader opener.

 

WWU got off to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 2nd inning on a two-out RBI single by Riley Anderson. The Saints evened the game in the top of the 4th inning on a single by Vanessa Smoke.

 

The two teams were locked in a pitcher's duel until the Vikings pushed across the winning run in the bottom of the 10th inning with the international tiebreaker rule in effect. Senior catcher Emily Paulson led off the inning with a perfectly-executed sacrifice bunt to move Kaiana Kong to third base and freshman third baseman Maleah Andrews followed with a single up the middle for the walk-off hit.

 

The Vikings left the bases loaded in the 4th inning and had a chance to push across the winning run in the 8th inning, but got the win on the Andrews single.

 

Kong earned the win with 6.0 scoreless relief innings to improve to 7-1 on the season, lowering her season ERA to 0.85. Junior starting pitcher Joie Baker recorded a no-decision allowing one run and three hits in 4.0 innings.

 

Andrews (2-for-5, RBI), catcher Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez (2-for-3, R) and first baseman Ashley Jacobson (2-for-3, BB) all recorded multi-hit games for the Vikings.

 

 

 

The Vikings completed the doubleheader sweep with a 5-1 victory in the nightcap, fueled by a three-run first inning.

 

Junior catcher Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez provided the big swing in the Vikings opening at-bat belting a two-run home run for her 10th longball of the season, becoming the third player in program history to record double-digits in homers in a season.

 

WWU added single tallies in the 2nd and 5th innings and rode another complete-game effort by starting pitcher Alli Kimball to the Vikings seventh consecutive win. 

 

Kimball improved to 9-2 on the season allowing five hits and one run in 7.0 innings, winning her fourth consecutive decision after going 3-0 with a 0.00 ERA at the Tournament of Champions last week. The run she allowed in the 2nd inning snapped a string of 20.0 consecutive scoreless innings.

 

Senior first baseman Ashley Jacobson was 2-for-3 to finish the day at the plate 4-for-6.

 

SMU right fielder Shelby Lawson went 2-for-2 with a double, home run and a walk.

 

 

The Vikings (24-4, 4-2 GNAC) close out the four-game series vs. the Saints Saturday with the GNAC doubleheader scheduled to start at noon at Viking Field. Looking ahead, WWU will then embark on an eight-game road trip with four games each at Simon Fraser (April 5-6) and Montana State Billings (April 12-13). The complete 2024 WWU Softball schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com.

 

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

 

 

Here is an up-to-date look at the GNAC Softball standings and this week's schedule and results. The top four teams in the conference standings at the conclusion of the regular season will qualify for the GNAC Championships May 2-4 in Bellingham at Vikings Field. All updated stats, standings and schedule from the conference are available online at GNACSports.com.