BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 13 nationally-ranked Western Washington University softball team extended its winning streak to nine consecutive games with a pair of wins Saturday over Saint Martin's University to finish off a four-game GNAC sweep over the Saints at Vikings Field.

WWU opened Saturday's doubleheader with a 7-1 victory, highlighted by five RBI from sophomore shortstop Hailey Rath, and completed the four-game sweep in dramatic fashion with a 5-3 victory on a walk-off three-run home run by junior Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez.

The Vikings improved to 26-4 overall – matching their 2023 season win total – and jumped into second place in the GNAC standings with a 6-2 league record. WWU has won nine consecutive games, nearing its second double-digit winning streak of the season after opening the season 13-0.

Rath and freshman third baseman Maleah Andrews each had four hits spread across the doubleheader to lead the Vikings offensive performance. Rath was 3-for-4 with a double, home run and five RBI in the opener and Andrews was 2-for-3 with a walk in the nightcap. Andrewjeski-Ramirez homered for the second consecutive game giving her 11 on the season to tie for the GNAC lead.

WWU's pitching staff had another strong performance allowing just four runs in 15.0 innings with junior Joie Baker (5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R) and freshman Kaiana Kong (7.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R) recording the wins.

"Getting a series sweep in the GNAC is always a challenge, especially against a team like Saint Martin's," said WWU head coach Sheryl Gilmore. "I am super proud of our team's grit. They fight together and they really have each other's backs out there. We had different people step up all weekend and that's what allows this team to find as much success as they have. Everyone finds a way to contribute every day."

Saint Martin's entered the series leading the GNAC standings, but has dropped seven consecutive games to fall to 16-15 overall and 7-5 in conference play.

SB🥎 | Walk it off Emma! Watch the 3-run Homer by Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez to give @WWU_Softball a sweep over Saint Martin's to extend the winning streak to 9️⃣ in a row!

🎙️: Adam Race pic.twitter.com/KTnR2QxCtx
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) March 31, 2024
 

The Vikings and Saints were tied through the first three innings until junior Amaya Davis lifted a sacrifice fly to put the Vikings up 1-0 in the bottom of the 4th inning. WWU then poured on six runs over its final two at-bats to defeat the Saints 7-1 to clinch the series victory.

Hailey Rath went 3-for-4 with five RBI, drilling her sixth double of the season and her fourth home run. Maleah Andrews added a 2-for-3 game at the plate with a double and scored a pair of runs.

Junior starting pitcher Joie Baker improved to 9-1 on the season with 5.0 scoreless innings, scattering four hits while striking out four batters. 

Trailing in a game for the first time in two weeks, the Vikings fought off a pair of Saint Martin's home runs to clinch the series sweep with a 5-3 win in eight innings, improving to 6-1 in extra-inning games this season.

WWU went up 1-0 on a sacrifice fly by second baseman Kanilehua Pitoy in the bottom of the 2nd inning.

Saint Martin's took its first lead of the series in the top of the 3rd inning on a towering two-run home run by third baseman Heather Ebner.

The Saints maintained a one-run lead until the bottom of the 6th inning with Ashley Jacobson scored a run on a hard-hit ball that Ebner was not able to field cleanly on the hot corner to tie the game 2-2.

SMU grabbed the lead once again in the top of the 8th inning on a solo home run by Britney Patrick, but the Vikings had one more comeback left in the tank. Singles by Maleah Andrews and Hailey Rath set the table for Emma Andrewjeski to hit her second walk-off home run of the season, taking Chloe Leverington deep over the left field fence on a 2-1 pitch for her 11th home run of the season.

Freshman Kaiana Kong (8-1) earned the win in relief of starter Alli Kimball (3.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R) by allowing only three hits and one run in 5.0 innings.

The Vikings (26-4, 6-2 GNAC) return to the road next week opening 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.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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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 following play on Saturday with the Vikings moving up to 2nd place in the standings with a 6-2 league record. 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.