BURNABY, B.C. – It turns out one 13-game winning streak just was not enough for the Western Washington University softball team.

 

Following Saturday's doubleheader sweep over Simon Fraser University – concluding a 4-0 weekend on Burnaby Mountain – the No. 12 nationally-ranked Vikings extended their winning streak to 13 consecutive games matching the program record for the second time this season.

 

WWU also reached the 30-win mark for the 10th time in program history (and in the fewest number of games) by improving to 30-4 overall. Oh, and the Vikings also moved into first place in the GNAC standings at 10-2 in conference play.

 

Western defeated SFU by scores of 7-0 in Saturday's opening game and 10-2 in five innings in the nightcap to complete the four-game sweep of the Red Leafs. In two games Saturday the Vikings pounded out 24 hits to score 17 runs, with freshman third baseman Maleah Andrews going 5-for-8 with three runs scored, three doubles, a triple and four RBI. Senior center fielder Taylor Khorrami also went 3-for-5 at the plate with four RBI, a day after robbing  a grand slam with a highlight-reel catch. 

 

Not to be outdone by the solid hitting performance was another brilliant display by the Viking pitchers combining for a 0.58 ERA on the day allowing one earned run in 12.0 innings. Junior Joie Baker completed a 2-0 weekend with a two-hit shutout in the opener. In two starts, Baker did not allow an earned run in 13.0 innings at SFU.

 

The Vikings look to continue their winning streak next week remaining on the road for a four-game series at Montana State Billings. WWU is a perfect 9-0 in true road games during the 2024 season and 20-1 in games played away from Bellingham.

SB🥎 | Two more W's for @WWU_Softball on Saturday to complete a 4-game sweep at Simon Fraser to extend the winning streak to 13 straight. 🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/gF2m0xRUiA

— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) April 7, 2024

 

The Vikings opened Saturday's doubleheader with a 7-0 shutout victory led by a complete-game 2-hitter from junior starting pitcher Joie Baker.

 

WWU opened the game with a single run in its opening at-bat on a RBI double by shortstop Hailey Rath. 

 

Clinging to a 1-0 lead, the Vikings scored five two-out runs in the top of the 4th inning to break the game open taking a 6-0 lead. Second baseman Kanilehua Pitoy recorded a run-scoring double and center fielder Taylor Khorrami drove in a pair of runs with a single up the middle. Left fielder Lexi Barcomb (single) and third baseman Maleah Andrews (double) also had run-scoring hits in the inning.

 

Andrews added her second run-scoring double of the game in the 6th inning to bring the game to the final score of 7-0. 

 

Baker improved to 11-1 on the season allowing just two hits in the complete-game effort. The junior walked three and struck out six batters.

 

Pitoy went 2-for-3 with a pair of doubles and scored two runs, with Andrews going 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.

 

SFU starter Nevada Johnson dropped to 0-4 on the season allowing six runs and six hits in 3.2 innings. 

 

 

 

The Vikings completed the four-game series sweep over SFU with a 10-2 victory in a run-rule-shortened five innings. WWU jumped out to a 10-0 lead before the Red Leafs scored their only two runs of the day in the bottom of the 5th inning.

 

WWU jumped out to the early lead with a single tally in the top of the 1st inning on an RBI single by Hailey Rath and poured on five more runs in the top of the 2nd inning to take a 6-0 lead. Third baseman Maleah Andrews provided the big hit with a two-run triple down the right field line.

 

The Vikings reached double-digits on the scoreboard with four runs in the top of the 4th inning by sending nine batters to the plate. Center fielder Taylor Khorrami capped a three-hit, four-RBI day with a two-run single to highlight the big inning.

 

Starting pitcher Alli Kimball threw 4.0 scoreless innings to record the win moving to 10-2 on the season. Kimball allowed four hits, walked one and struck out three.

 

Andrews was a home run short of the cycle going 3-for-4 with three runs scored, a double and triple. She had a string of four consecutive extra-base hits between the first and second games with three doubles and a triple. Khorrami finished 2-for-3 with two RBI, left fielder Laila Carpenter was 2-for-2 and Rath went 2-for-3.

 

 

The Vikings (30-4, 10-2 GNAC) remain on the road next weekend with a four-game set at Montana State Billings. 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.
 

 

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 Saturday's games with the Vikings jumping to the top of the table with a 10-2 record (.833). 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 30-4 on the season (.882), 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 13-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 equaled the school-record winning streak with the current run of consecutive wins.

 

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 and the current 13-game winning is also tied for the longest in program history.