LONGWOOD, Fla. – The Western Washington University softball team opened play Sunday in the NCAA Division II Softball National Championship Tournament with a 2-1 victory over Wilmington to cap the final day of action at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park.

 

Three of the four games during the opening day of the tournament were determined by one run and two went into extra innings. The Vikings (49-9) advance to the winners bracket of their four-game pod and will face No. 2 seed and No. 3 nationally-ranked UT Tyler (54-8) Monday at 1:30 pm ET/10:30 am PT.

 

No. 6 WWU pitchers limited No. 3 Wilmington batters to 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position, with freshman closer Kaiana Kong wiggling out of a bases loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the 6th inning.

 

"This win is a testament to the team and how they have bought into each other and the idea of just winning the next pitch," said WWU head coach Sheryl Gilmore. "They are a resilient team that plays with a lot of grit, something we have seen all season long. Any time we have our backs up against the wall it is not a place they are unfamiliar with. They are a team that is comfortable with being uncomfortable. I think that attitude allows them to settle in and just win the next moment. I am super proud of the team win…they are a gritty group."

 

All runs in the game were scored in the 3rd inning, with WWU striking first with a pair of RBI doubles from freshman third baseman Maleah Andrews and sophomore shortstop Hailey Rath to put the Vikings up 2-0. Senior center fielder Taylor Khorrami ignited the rally with a leadoff single to center field and scored from first base on Andrew's 17th double of the season.

 

The Wildcats scratched back in the bottom of the 3rd plating a run on a single by Sara Miller, but the final out of the inning was recorded at home plate to keep the game a one-run contest. 

 

WWU freshman pitcher Alli Kimball was solid in a starting role scattering seven hits in 5.0 innings before turning the ball over to Kong. Wilmington put five runners on base over the final two innings, but were not able to push across the equalizer.

 

After Kong got out of the bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 6th inning, Wilmington started another rally in its final at-bat. Tristyn Stewart reached on a leadoff single and promptly stole second base, but was called out on video replay review for leaving first base early. 

 

With two outs and the potential tying run in scoring position, Miller sent a slow roller to WWU second baseman Kanilehua Pitoywho shoveled the ball to first base for the final out of the game on a close play. Wilmington used its second video review of the game, but the call stood to end the contest. 

 

Kimball improved to 22-2 on the season and Kong extended her WWU and GNAC record with her national-leading 11th save of the season. Andrews went 2-for-3 with a double, RBI, run scored and a walk to extend her postseason hitting streak to six consecutive games.
 

 

The Vikings (49-9) advance to the winners bracket of their four-team pod and will face No. 2 seed and No. 3 nationally-ranked UT Tyler (54-8) on Monday at 1:30 pm ET/10:30 am PT at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, Florida. The game will feature a free webcast live on NCAA.com.

 

WWU is the first team since the GNAC was formed in 2001 to reach the NCAA Division II Softball Championship Tournament…the Vikings improved to 10-2 during the postseason and 7-2 in NCAA Tournament play with Sunday's victory…WWU remains perfect at 13-0 when wearing its all-black uniforms this season…Vikings also improved to 28-2 away from Bellingham (12-1 neutral-site games), 7-2 vs. nationally-ranked opponents and 16-6 in one-run games…Maleah Andrews extended her postseason hitting streak to six games and Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez has reached base safely in each of her last seven games…Kimball's 22 wins are 3rd-most in a season in program history…Kong's 11 saves are the most of any pitcher in NCAA Division II this season…Western is 31-0 this season when leading after six innings. WWU's 49 wins are 13 more than the previous school record of 36 set in 2011 and 4th-most in GNAC history.
 

 

The NCAA II Softball National Championship format consists of two four-team brackets that will play a double-elimination tournament May 19-22. The winner of each four-team bracket will square off in a best-of-three championship final round held May 24-25. In addition to No. 6 WWU and No. 3 Wilmington, No. 2 UT Tyler and No. 7 Augustana are also in the same bracket. No. 1 Auburn Montgomery, No. 4 Indianapolis, No. 5 Charleston (WV) and No. 8 Lenoir-Rhyne are in the other bracket to make up the eight-team field. All games during the DII Softball National Championship will be played at Boombah-Soldiers Creek Park in Longwood, Florida. Here is a detailed look at the game schedule (and results) for the NCAA DII Softball National Championship:

 

Sunday, May 19:

Game 1 – #8 Lenoir-Rhyne 1, #1 Auburn Montgomery 0 (9 inn.)

Game 2 – #4 UIndy 9, vs. #5 Charleston 0 (5 inn.)

Game 3 – #2 UT Tyler 2, #7 Augustana 1 (8 inn.)

Game 4 –#6 Western Washington 2, #3 Wilmington 1

 

Monday, May 20:

Game 5 – #8 Lenoir-Rhyne vs. #4 UIndy, 11 am ET/8 am PT

Game 6 – #2 UT Tyler vs. #6 Western Washington, 1:30 pm ET/10:30 am PT

Spring Championships Festival Opening Ceremonies, 6:30 pm ET/3:30 pm PT

 

Tuesday, May 21:

Game 7 – #1 Auburn Montgomery vs. #5 Charleston, 11 am ET/8 am PT - Elimination Game

Game 8 – #7 Augustana vs. #3 Wilmington, 1:30 pm ET/10:30 am PT - Elimination Game

Game 9 – Loser Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 4 pm ET/1 pm PT - Elimination Game

Game 10 – Loser Game 6 vs. Winner Game 8, 6:30 pm ET/3:30 pm PT - Elimination Game

 

Wednesday, May 22:

Game 11 – Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 9, 11 am ET/8 am PT

Game 12 – Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 10, 1:30 pm ET/10:30 am PT

Game 13 – First bracket if necessary, 4 pm ET/1 pm PT

Game 14 – Second bracket if necessary, 6:30 pm ET/3:30 pm PT

Winner of each 4-team bracket advances to National Championship best-of-three series

 

Thursday, May 23:

Off Day / Practice for final two teams

 

Friday, May 24:

Championship Game 1 - 12 pm ET/9 am PT

 

Saturday, May 25:

Championship Game 2 - 12 pm ET/9 am PT

Championship Game 3 - 2:30 pm ET/11:30 am ET - if necessary

Winner of each best-of-three series wins national title

 

All games during the 2024 NCAA Division II Softball National Championship will be streamed live and FREE online by visiting NCAA.com/liveschedule. Once visiting that link fans will be able to choose from all NCAA events that will stream that day…just find the Viking logo and click to watch the game live online. A direct link will also be available by bookmarking wwuvikings.com/SB_Watch.

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

 

 

Here are links on how to follow the 2024 NCAA Division II Softball Championships with the original 64-team field now down to the final eight teams at the DII College World Series in Longwood, Florida:

 

• NCAA Spring Sports Festival
• Championships Festival Schedule
• Live Webcast on NCAA.com (FREE)
• NCAA Tournament Scoreboard
• NCAA Bracket
• Digital Gameday Program
• NCAA Softball
• WWU Softball Statistics
• Super Regional Website

 

WWU is making its sixth all-time appearance in the NCAA Division II Softball Championships and first since 2021. Entering the 2024 postseason with one NCAA Tournament victory, the Vikings are 7-2 during the current playoff run and are 7-12 all-time in the NCAA Championships. Prior to moving to the NCAA level in 1999, WWU won the NAIA World Series for the first team title in WWU Athletics history. Here is a look at the Vikings game-by-game listing in the NCAA Championships with the regional host site listed next to the year:

 

2003 (Bakersfield, CA):

Lost to UC Davis, 4-2

Lost to Humboldt State, 7-1

 

2007 (Turlock, CA):

Lost to Stanislaus State, 2-0

Lost to Sonoma State, 3-1

 

2011 (Chico, CA):

Lost to Chico State, 3-1

Lost to Central Washington, 8-4

 

2017 (Seaside, CA):

Defeated Cal State Monterey Bay, 5-3

Lost to Dixie State, 5-0

Lost to Sonoma State, 6-4

 

2021 (Irvine, CA):

Lost to Hawai'i Hilo, 3-0

Lost to Central Washington, 9-5

 

2024 (Bellingham, WA):

Defeated Azusa Pacific, 1-0

Lost to Cal State San Marcos, 4-3

Defeated Azusa Pacific, 3-0

Defeated Cal State San Marcos, 7-1

Defeated Cal State San Marcos, 2-1

Defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills, 4-3 (Super Regional)

Lost to Cal State Dominguez Hills, 3-2 (Super Regional)

Defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills, 7-6 (West Region Champions) – 8 innings

Defeated Wilmington (DE), 2-1 (NCAA Championship Finals) – Longwood, FL

 

WWU has set the program record for wins in a season with 49 (and counting), passing the 36 wins achieved by the 2011 squad (36-16/.692). This is the 10th season with 30-or-more wins in program history. Western also ranks 4th in GNAC history with the 49 wins: