BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team continued its historic season winning the Great Northwest Athletic Conference Tournament title with a 4-0 victory over Northwest Nazarene University Saturday afternoon at Viking Field.

 

The No. 14 nationally-ranked and No. 2 seed Vikings defended its home turf winning their third GNAC postseason title while hosting the four-team tournament for the first time in the 11-year history of the event. WWU becomes the second team to win the GNAC Championships title on a home field, joining Concordia in 2019.

 

The Vikings defeated No. 13 Northwest Nazarene for the second time in the tournament and fourth time this season (4-2) to earn the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA II West Regional Championships. WWU will find out early Monday morning if they will serve as one of the two hosts for the regional championships. 

 

Playing in its fifth GNAC Championships Final round, the Vikings added a title to the 2017 and 2021 seasons. WWU improved to 42-7 on the season with its sixth consecutive victory, extending the program single-season record for wins.

 

Freshman Maleah Andrews earned Tournament MVP honors after going 1-for-4 with the game-winning RBI, finishing the tournament 5-for-10 (.500) with four RBI. Junior right-fielder McKenna Crum was 3-for-3 with a key two-run double and senior center fielder Taylor Khorrami went 1-for-2 with a walk and two runs scored. Junior center fielder Kanilehua Pitoy also tabbed a multi-hit game going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

 

"We came in knowing what we had to do, and as a team we just built off each other's energy," said Andrews. "My teammates do a great job ahead of me of putting themselves in scoring position, and I know it takes just one hit to move them around. We have all prepared really well for big pressure situations."

 

"She is clutch," WWU head coach Sheryl Gilmore said on Andrews, a freshman. "We knew it was going to be a matter of time before she came through. Shout out to TK and McKenna for getting on base before her, and it is great to have production from the bottom end of the lineup."

 

While the Vikings were clicking at the plate with nine hits, the pitching staff was even more impressive handing NNU just its fourth shutout loss of the season. Freshman starting pitcher Alli Kimball was masterful in the circle limiting the Nighthawks to three hits in 5.0 scoreless innings to earn the win improving to 17-2 on the season. Freshman relief pitcher Kaiana Kong retired six of the seven batters she faced to close out the 4-0 victory.

 

"It feels awesome, and I'm so blessed with the outpouring of support we have had," said Kimball, a freshman. "This team is truly special. I try really hard not to let the moment get too big, and I know I have an amazing team around me that is going to support me with runs and defense."

GNAC Interviews:

• Sheryl Gilmore
• Alli Kimball
• Maleah Andrews

 

 

The Vikings (42-7) will now wait for Monday's NCAA Selection Show that airs at 7 am at NCAA.com to find out its seed and if they will serve as host for the NCAA West Regional. WWU will be making its sixth all-time appearance in the NCAA West Regional Championships. The complete 2024 WWU Softball schedule can be viewed online at WWUVikings.com.

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WWU is now 4-2 vs. NNU this season, after the teams split their four regular-season contests…Saturday marked the sixth time that NNU and WWU met in the GNAC Softball Championships, with WWU moving to 4-2 advantage in the all-time postseason series…WWU improved to 3-2 in GNAC title games…the Vikings 42 wins are a program record, six more than the previous record of 36 set in 2011…Taylor Khorrami extended her hitting streak to six consecutive games and has hit safely in 12 of the last 217 games.
 

 

The four-team, double-elimination tournament was hosted at Viking Field in Bellingham with Western Washington University serving as first-time hosts. Here is a look at the tournament results with the winner of the double-elimination tournament will receive the GNAC's automatic bid to the NCAA Championships West Regional.

 

 

Thursday, May 2

Game 1: No. 2 Western Washington 4, No. 3 Saint Martin's 1

Game 2: No. 1 Northwest Nazarene 1, No. 4 Central Washington 0

 

Friday, May 3

Game 3: No. 2 Western Washington 4, No. 1 Northwest Nazarene 2

Game 4: No. 3 Saint Martin's 4, vs. No. 4 Central Washington 1 (CWU eliminated)

Game 5: No. 1 Northwest Nazarene 8, No. 3 Saint Martin's 0 (SMU eliminated

 

Saturday, May 4

Game 6: No. 2 Western Washington 4, No. 1 Northwest Nazarene 0

WWU has advanced to play in seven of the 11 GNAC Championship tournaments, winning titles 2017, 2021 and 2024. The Vikings are 13-8 all-time in GNAC Championships play following Saturday's championship win over Northwest Nazarene.

 

The top eight teams in the region advance to the NCAA II West Regional Championships, with the bracket announced Monday, May 6 at 7 am PT on NCAA.com. The top two teams in the final rankings will have the opportunity to serve as a host site for the opening rounds that will be played May 9-11. WWU earns the GNAC's automatic bid to the NCAA West Regional and entered the GNAC Championships ranked No. 1 in the West Region, with NNU listed No. 2. The regional field is split into two four-team tournaments (#4, #5, #8 travel to #1 seed, #3, #6, #7 travel to #2 seed). A super regional between the sub-regional winners will be played May 15-16 with the winner advancing to the NCAA II National Championships in Longwood, Florida.
 

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

 

 

WWU has set the program record for wins in a season with 42 (and counting), passing the 36 wins achieved by the 2011 squad (36-16/.692). This is the 10th 30-victory season in program history.