LACEY, Wash. – The No. 9 nationally ranked Western Washington University softball team split its Saturday doubleheader and four-game series at Saint Martin's University.

After splitting Friday to open the GNAC season, the Vikings and Saints split again Saturday in similar fashion at Saints Field. SMU opened the doubleheader with an 8-3 victory and the Vikings responded with a 15-5 run-rule victory in 5 innings in the nightcap.

WWU finished the first weekend of conference play at 2-2 and is 14-7 overall.

The highlight of the doubleheader was a grand slam by senior right fielder McKenna Crum in the second game, the first collegiate home run in 158 career games.

The Vikings dropped the opening game of the doubleheader 8-3 to fall to 1-2 in the series vs. the Saints.

WWU opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd inning on a two-out double by senior right fielder McKenna Crum.

The Saints grabbed control of the game in the bottom half of the 2nd inning scoring four runs while batting around sending 10 batters to the plate. The big inning chased WWU senior starting pitcher Joie Baker from the game with the highlight a two-run single by Analise Griffiths.

The Vikings cut the deficit to two runs in the top of the 5th inning on an RBI single by Maleah Andrews, but the Saints added a run in the 5th and three more in the 6th to lead 8-2. Western got a run back in the top 7th on a two-out triple by Andrews, who came into score on a fielding error.

Andrews continued her hot hitting going 3-for-4 with a double and triple. Baker dropped to 5-5 on the season allowing four hits and four runs (2 ER) in 1.2 innings. Sophomore reliever Kaiana Kong finished the game pitching the final 4.1 innings (7 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 3 SO).

SMU senior starting pitcher Chloe Leverington improved to 7-0 on the season and 2-0 in the series with the complete-game effort. Outfielder Haley Agena went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored.

Much like Friday, the Vikings answered a first-game loss with a resounding run-rule victory taking the nightcap 15-5.

SMU led 2-0 after the 1st inning, but WWU scored 13 runs in the 2nd and 3rd innings to jump ahead setting up the 5-inning run-rule scenario.

Senior right fielder McKenna Crum had the big hit with her first collegiate home run, a grand slam in the nine-run 3rd inning. 

WWU recorded 16 hits in the contest with senior Kanilehua Pitoy going 4-for-4 with two RBI and sophomore Laila Carpenter going 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a double. Crum was 2-for-3 with a career-high five RBI, also hitting a triple in the game.

Sophomore starting pitcher Alli Kimball improved to 2-0 in the series and 5-2 on the season allowing five runs over 4.0 innings.

The Vikings (14-7, 2-2 GNAC) returns to action next week with a four-game home series in GNAC play hosting Western Oregon Friday and Saturday (March 14-15) with doubleheaders scheduled to start at noon. Links to follow the live stats and webcast 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: