IRVINE, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team broke into the win column Friday afternoon defeating No. 15 Cal State Dominguez Hills 7-2 to wrap up Opening Day of the 2025 season at the CUI Kickoff Classic.

In a rematch of the 2024 NCAA II West Super Regional (won by WWU), the No. 2 nationally ranked Vikings beat the Toros to finish Friday 1-1. Western dropped its season opener 7-1 to Cal State East Bay earlier Friday.

WWU wasted little time putting the morning loss behind them scoring five runs in its first at-bat. The Vikings sent 10 batters to the plate in the five-run inning. Freshman Haylee Kim fought off an 0-2 pitch sending a soft grounder to second base that was misplayed to score a pair of runs.

The Toros got on the board in the top of the 3rd inning plating a run against starting pitcher Joie Baker via a pair of walks, wild pitch and a run-scoring groundout. CSUDH added another run in the 4th inning on an RBI double by catcher Sam Kwiatkoski to cut the deficit to 5-2.

The Vikings added insurance runs in the 5th inning on an infield single by freshman Nyree Johnson and a solo home run by sophomore third baseman Maleah Andrews in the bottom of the 6th inning.

Junior shortstop Hailey Rath went 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored while starting her 115th consecutive game and Andrews was 1-for-2 with the home run and a pair of walks. In eight plate appearances Friday on her birthday, Andrews went 3-for-4 with two doubles, one home run and four walks.

Baker (1-0) earned the win in her senior season debut allowing three hits and two runs in 4.0 innings of work, striking out three and walking three. Sophomore closer Kaiana Kong, the national leader with 11 saves as a freshman in 2024, recorded her first save of the season tossing 3.0 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

CSUDH (1-1) starting pitcher Alivia Holden was saddled with the loss allowing six runs (4 ER) in 4.0 innings of work. Shortstop Mireya Rico (2-for-3) and Kwiatkoski (2-for-3) both contributed multi-hit games for the Toros.

The Vikings are back on the field at the CUI Kickoff Classic with a pair of games Saturday facing Azusa Pacific at 8 am and Vanguard at 3:30 pm. WWU wraps up play in the tournament Sunday with an 8:30 am game vs. Cal State San Bernardino. 

SB🥎 | We have liftoff! Watch the 🚀 by Maleah Andrews for her first home run of the season to cap a great day at the plate on Opening Day for @WWU_Softball. pic.twitter.com/AmQFq4eeIc
— WWU Athletics (@WWUAthletics) February 1, 2025
  

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2025 season:

Here is a detailed look at WWU's five-game schedule at the CUI Kickoff Classic. A very informative tournament website is available at CUIGoldenEagles.com, which includes important fan information in regards to tickets and field locations. All games will feature live statistical updates online with links listed below:

The WWU softball program begins its 33rd season in 2025 while coming off a historic 52-12 season in 2024. The Vikings claimed their third GNAC title by winning the 2024 postseason tournament at Viking Field and advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships for the sixth time in program history. Playing on its home field in the NCAA postseason for the first time, WWU won its first West Regional title defeating Cal State San Marcos in the sub-regional and Cal State Dominguez Hills in the Super Regional. The historic season ended playing in the national championship series as part of the NCAA Division II Spring Sports Festival in Longwood, Florida. WWU has posted a winning record 21 times during the 32-year history of the program, which won the 1998 NAIA National Championship in only its sixth season to record the school's first ever team national title.