MONMOUTH, Ore. – The Western Washington University softball team split its doubleheader Saturday at Western Oregon University with each team recording a shutout at WOU Softball Field.
The Wolves opened the GNAC series that concludes the regular season with a 2-0 victory over the Vikings, but WWU responded with a 7-0 victory in the nightcap to record the 37th victory of the season to set the program single-season record.
With two games remaining Sunday to close out the regular season, the Vikings are assured of finishing in 2nd place in the Great Northwest Athletic Conference and will be the No. 2 seed for the GNAC Championships next week (May 2-4) at Viking Field in Bellingham. WWU is 37-7 overall and 17-5 in conference play.
Junior Joie Baker was dealt a bit of tough luck in the opener allowing two runs in 4.2 innings to record the loss falling to 11-3 on the season. WWU was limited to three hits, but brought the potential winning run to the plate in the top of the 7th inning.
In the nightcap the Vikings took an early 2-0 lead on the first collegiate home run by Oregon native Emily Paulson, a senior catcher from Tigard. WWU scored in each of its last six innings to record its sixth shutout victory of the season.
Freshman starting pitcher Alli Kimball improved to 14-2 on the season scattering three hits in 5.0 scoreless innings, striking out six and walking a pair. Freshman reliever Kaiana Kong retired six of the seven batters she faced to close out the Vikings record-breaking 37th victory of the season.
Paulson went 2-for-3 with a walk and two RBI, right fielder McKenna Crum went 3-for-3 with two RBI and Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez hit her 14th home run of the season to tie Emily Benson's single-season program record.
The 2-0 loss in the opening game marked WWU's first defeat in a true road game this season (was 14-0). The Vikings have combined to go 25-2 this season in games played away from Bellingham.
The Vikings (37-7, 17-5 GNAC) close out the regular season Sunday with a doubleheader at Western Oregon beginning at noon. The GNAC Championships bracket will be announced later Sunday with the three-day postseason tournament beginning next Thursday in Bellingham. 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:
|
RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall
|
37-7
|
|
GNAC
|
17-5
|
|
Non-Conference
|
20-2
|
|
Streak
|
W1
|
|
Home
|
12-5
|
|
Away
|
14-1
|
|
Neutral
|
11-1
|
|
Day Games
|
34-6
|
|
Night Games
|
3-0
|
|
vs. Ranked Teams
|
4-2
|
|
1-Run Games
|
11-4
|
|
2-Run Games
|
5-2
|
|
Extra Innings
|
6-1
|
|
Shutouts
|
6-3
|
|
BY UNIFORM
|
|
Black
|
10-0
|
|
Blue/White
|
11-2
|
|
Navy
|
1-2
|
|
Gray
|
10-2
|
|
White/Navy
|
5-1
|
|
Gray/Blue
|
0-0
|
Here is an up-to-date look at the GNAC Softball standings through Saturday's games with the Vikings clinching 2nd place in the standings with a 17-5 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.
|
GNAC SOFTBALL
|
CONF.
|
PCT
|
OVERALL
|
PCT
|
HOME
|
AWAY
|
NEUTRAL
|
STREAK
|
|
1.
|
Northwest Nazarene*#
|
20-4
|
.833
|
37-8
|
.822
|
14-2
|
19-4
|
4-2
|
W4
|
|
2.
|
Western Washington*
|
17-5
|
.773
|
37-7
|
.841
|
12-5
|
14-1
|
11-1
|
W1
|
|
3.
|
Saint Martin's*
|
16-8
|
.667
|
25-18
|
.581
|
6-7
|
12-6
|
7-5
|
W5
|
|
4.
|
Central Washington*
|
12-12
|
.500
|
17-28
|
.378
|
11-11
|
5-9
|
1-8
|
L2
|
|
5.
|
Western Oregon
|
9-13
|
.409
|
21-24
|
.467
|
7-8
|
10-13
|
4-3
|
L1
|
|
6.
|
Simon Fraser
|
6-18
|
.250
|
11-31
|
.262
|
4-8
|
5-15
|
2-8
|
W2
|
|
7.
|
Montana State Billings
|
2-22
|
.083
|
9-38-1
|
.198
|
2-13-1
|
2-14
|
5-11
|
L5
|
|
* Clinched GNAC Championships Berth, # Clinched GNAC regular-season title
|
|
This Week's GNAC Schedule
|
|
Friday, April 26:
Saint Martin's 12, at Montana State Billings 4 (6 inn.)
Saint Martin's 15, at Montana State Billings 7 (6 inn.)
at Central Washington 4, Simon Fraser 3
at Central Washington 2, Simon Fraser 1
Saturday, April 27:
Saint Martin's 7, at Montana State Billings 2
Saint Martin's 6, at Montana State Billings 3
at Western Oregon 2, Western Washington 0
Western Washington 7, at Western Oregon 0
Simon Fraser 3, at Central Washington 1
Simon Fraser 1, at Central Washington 0
Sunday, April 28:
Western Washington at Western Oregon, 12 pm (DH)
|
VIKINGS SET RECORD FOR WINS
WWU set the program record for wins in a season with 37, passing the 36 wins achieved by the 2011 squad (36-16/.692). This is the 10th 30-victory season in program history.
|
Rk
|
Year
|
W
|
L
|
T
|
Pct.
|
|
1.
|
2024
|
37
|
7
|
|
.841
|
|
2.
|
2011
|
36
|
16
|
|
.692
|
|
3.
|
2017
|
34
|
19
|
|
.642
|
|
|
2007
|
34
|
22
|
|
.607
|
|
5.
|
1998
|
33
|
13
|
|
.717
|
|
|
1999
|
33
|
13
|
|
.717
|
|
7.
|
2000
|
32
|
13
|
|
.711
|
|
8.
|
2001
|
31
|
17
|
1
|
.643
|
|
9.
|
2014
|
30
|
14
|
|
.682
|
|
|
2015
|
30
|
18
|
|
.625
|
POSTSEASON TICKET PUNCHED
The Vikings have clinched one of the four spots in the GNAC Softball Championships that will be held May 2-4 at Viking Field in Bellingham. WWU will be the No. 2 seed in the GNAC Championships with the official bracket revealed Sunday evening. More info on the GNAC Championships can be found online at GNACSports.com.
