BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The No. 10 nationally ranked Western Washington University softball team made its 2025 home debut Saturday splitting a non-conference doubleheader vs. Simon Fraser University at Viking Field.

 

SFU won the first game 1-0 snapping the Vikings 10-game winning streak and Western responded with a 7-1 victory in the nightcap to earn the split improving to 12-5 on the season. WWU was playing on Viking Field for the first time since the historic walk-off victory in the NCAA II Super Regional Final vs. Cal State Dominguez Hills on May 15, 2024, punching the program's ticket to the NCAA II World Series in Florida.

 

WWU received three outstanding pitching performances in the doubleheader with starters Joie Baker (5.2 IP) and Alli Kimball (7.0 IP) combining to allow only two runs in 14.0 innings. Relief pitcher Kaiana Kong also tossed 1.1 scoreless innings as Viking pitchers held SFU to two runs in the doubleheader.

 

Sophomore third baseman Maleah Andrews went 4-for-4 in the second game after having her 12-game hitting streak snapped and junior shortstop Hailey Rath was 3-for-4 in the second game. WWU also played solid defense throughout the day with several diving catches in the outfield.

 

 

In the Vikings first home game of the season they were shut out 1-0 by Simon Fraser.

 

The Red Leafs scored in their opening at-bat with back-to-back hits, including a double, and a wild pitch to push across the first run.

 

WWU was held off the scoreboard for the second time this season while having its 10-game winning streak snapped. The Vikings left eight runners on base and were 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position.

 

Senior starting pitcher Joie Baker had another great start despite recording the loss (5-3) limiting SFU to four hits and one run in 5.2 innings. Baker struck out six and walked one. Sophomore Kaiana Kong kept WWU in the game holding the Red Leafs scoreless over the final 1.1 innings.

 

SFU starter Shaneika Hollingworth (3.1 IP) and reliever Monica Bourque (3.2 IP) combined on the shutout with Bourque recording the win improving to 5-4 on the season.

 

Senior second baseman Kanilehua Pitoy was 2-for-4 to lead the Vikings at the plate. 

 

 

 

Sophomore Alli Kimball allowed one run over 7.0 innings to record the complete-game victory and Maleah Andrews and Hailey Rath combined to go 7-for-8 to lead the Vikings to a 7-1 victory in the nightcap.

 

After going 0-for-3 in the opener to snap her 12-game hitting streak, Andrews was 4-for-4 with a triple and two RBI to lead the Vikings 10-hit parade.

 

Both teams scored a single run in the 1st inning and the Vikings opened the game up with three runs in the bottom of the 2nd. Andrews had a two-run single through the right side of the infield to highlight the inning.

 

The Vikings put the game out of reach with three more runs in the bottom of the 5th inning with junior first baseman Olivia Matlock plating a pair of runs with a single down the left field line.

 

Kimball (3-2) earned the win with the complete-game effort on 104 pitches, scattering five hits while striking out five.

 

SFU starter Nevada Johnson (0-5) suffered the loss allowing six hits and four runs (3 ER) in 4.0 innings.

 

 

The Vikings (12-5, 0-0 GNAC) officially opens GNAC play next week with a pair of road doubleheaders at Saint Martin's in Lacey, with first pitch scheduled for noon both days at Saints Field. Links to follow the live stats for both games are available at wwuvikings.com/Live. The complete 2025 schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/Team33.

 

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

 

 

WWU had its 10-game winning streak snapped in the opening game of the doubleheader, entering the record books as tied for 8th-longest in program history. The Vikings set the club record twice last season with winning streaks of 13 games (in February) and 17 games (in March/April). Here is a look at the longest winning streaks in the 33 years of WWU Softball:

 

 

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.