BILLINGS, Mont. – The Western Washington University softball team made history Friday, extending its winning streak to 15 consecutive games with a doubleheader sweep at Montana State Billings to set the school record for the longest winning streak in program history.

 

The No. 11 nationally-ranked Vikings defeated MSUB 11-5 and 6-4 at Avitus Group Stadium to improve to 32-4 overall and remain in first place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference standings with a 12-2 record.

 

Extending its second double-digit winning streak of the season, Western broke the previous 13-game record winning streak set in 2001 and earlier this season. WWU's current win total of 32 is tied for 6th-best in program history and quickly approaching the single-season record of 36 wins set in 2011.

 

The Vikings established the winning streak record with an 11-5 victory in the doubleheader opener with Ashley Jacobson (2-for-4, 3 RBI), Maleah Andrews (2-for-4, 2 R) and Kanilehua Pitoy (3-for-4, HR) leading the way.

 

WWU improved to 15-3 in games decided by 2-or-fewer runs with a 6-4 win in the nightcap, led by a 2-for-4 performance by shortstop Hailey Rath recording a double and home run.

 

Rath and junior left fielder Lexi Barcomb each had three hits in the doubleheader, with Andrews leading the way with four RBI going 3-for-7 with two doubles and a walk.

 

The Vikings opened the doubleheader with an 11-5 victory to record the program record 14th consecutive victory.

 

WWU built an 11-1 lead before MSUB climbed back into the game with four runs in the bottom of the 4th inning to eliminate the possibility of the 8-run rule.

 

The Vikings built the lead with a pair of runs in the bottom of the 1st inning on a two-out, two-run single by first baseman Ashley Jacobson. 

 

Freshman third baseman Maleah Andrews extended the lead with a two-run double in the top of the 2nd inning and Jacobson capped the five-run second inning with a run-scoring double.

 

Teegan Seeton hit her GNAC-leading 13th home run to put MSUB on the board in the 3rd inning.

 

WWU added four more runs in the 4th inning on a two-run single by catcher Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez and a two-run home run by second baseman Kanilehua Pitoy.

 

Freshman Kaiana Kong (10-1) earned the win allowing one run on three hits in 4.0 innings of relief. Junior starter Joie Baker left her outing with the lead, but recorded a no-decision allowing six hits and four runs in 3.0 innings.

 

Jacobson finished 2-for-4 with three RBI to extend her hitting streak to 10 consecutive games and Andrews was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs to extend her hitting streak to nine games. Pitoy went 3-for-4 hitting her second home run of the season.

 

Seeton added a two-run single for the Yellowjackets (8-28-1, 1-12 GNAC) to finish 2-for-3 with three RBI. Starting pitcher Caitlyn James (5-18) recorded the loss allowing 11 hits and 11 runs in 4.0 innings. Relief pitcher Elaina Toxell allowed one hit over 3.0 scoreless innings of relief work.

 

 

 

The Vikings made it a fifth consecutive GNAC doubleheader sweep with a tightly contested 6-4 win in the nightcap.

 

WWU jumped out to a 3-0 lead scoring a pair of runs in the 3rd inning and a single tally in the top of the 4th. Junior left fielder McKenna Crum got the scoring started with an RBI infield single and sophomore shortstop Hailey Rath followed with a double down the left field line to make it 2-0.

 

Freshman third baseman Maleah Andrews extended the lead to 3-0 with a run-scoring fielder's choice in the 4th inning.

 

MSUB cut the deficit to one run with a pair of runs off starter Alli Kimball in the bottom of the 5th inning on a solo home run by Payton Meyer and a run-scoring double by Kendall Klemp.

 

Leading by one run at 3-2, Andrews drove in another run with a groundout and Rath hit a tape-measure home run to left-center field to give the Vikings a 6-2 lead. 

 

The Yellowjackets scored a pair of runs off relief pitcher Kaiana Kong in the bottom of the 6th inning, but Kong worked around a two-out walk in the bottom of the 7th inning to close out the victory.

 

Kimball improved to 11-2 on the season allowing five hits and two runs in 5.0 innings. The freshman struck out four and did not walk a batter.

 

Rath went 3-for-4 with three RBI to extend her hitting streak to eight consecutive games and center fielder Taylor Khorrami (2-for-4, R) and left fielder Lexi Barcomb (2-for-3, R) both recorded multi-hit games.

 

 

The Vikings (32-4, 12-2 GNAC) close out the four-game set at Montana State Billings Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at noon MT (11 am PT). Western's next home series is set for April 19-20 hosting in-state rival Central Washington to a pair of doubleheaders at Viking Field. The complete 2024 WWU Softball schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com.

 

WWU remained perfect in true road games this season, improving to 11-0 with the two games Friday in Billings. Overall, the Vikings have built their amazing 32-4 record with a 22-1 record in games away from Bellingham.

 

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 Friday's games with the Vikings remaining in first place in the standings with a 12-2 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.

 

 

For just the 10th time in program history – and the fastest in just 34 games – the Vikings have reached the 30-win mark in a season. WWU is 32-4 on the season (.889), marking the first 30-win season for the program since going 34-19 in 2017. The single-season school record for wins is 36 set by the 2011 squad (36-16/.692).

 

 

The Vikings have a current 15-game winning streak to mark the team's second double-digit winning streak this season. Western opened the season with a school-record 13 consecutive wins for the best undefeated start in program and GNAC history and have broken the school record with the current 13-game winning streak.

 

Five players have active hitting streaks of at least four games, led by a current 11-game hitting streak by senior first baseman Ashley Jacobson. Here is a look at the active hitting streaks and the player stats during the streaks:

 

 

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 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 current 15-game winning streak is established as the program record, bettering a pair of 13-game winning streaks.

 

 

With Friday's doubleheader sweep the Vikings have won 10 consecutive games against MSUB and 17 of the last 18 meetings dating back to 2019. WWU leads the series 46-43 over the Yellowjackets.

 

When hitting a home run the Vikings are perfect at 19-0 this season.