ELLENSBURG, Wash. – The No. 11 nationally-ranked Western Washington recorded a pair of convincing victories Friday in GNAC play defeating in-state rival Central Washington by scores of 15-2 and 12-0 in 5-inning games due to the run rule.

 

The Vikings passed the 30-win mark for the second consecutive season, improving to 31-10 overall, the 11th 30-win season in 33 years of program history. Over the last two seasons the Vikings are a combined 83-22. Head Coach Sheryl Gilmore continues to inch towards the 200-win milestone with an impressive 198-113 mark in seven seasons leading the program.

 

WWU out-scored CWU 27-2 in the doubleheader, highlighted by the offense recording 30 hits with nine doubles and a pair of home runs. The 4th inning was the deciding factor in both games, with the Vikings combining for 20 runs in the frame with 12 runs in the opener and eight in the nightcap.

 

Senior catcher/designated player Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez was perfect at the plate in the doubleheader, going 5-for-5 with a grand slam, three doubles, seven RBI and reached base in all seven plate appearances also drawing a pair of walks. Four of Andrewjeski-Ramirez' five hits went for extra bases. 

 

Senior second baseman Kanilehua Pitoy combined to go 5-for-8 with five runs scored and senior right fielder McKenna Crum went 3-for-4 with three runs, two walks and one stolen base. Sophomore third baseman Maleah Andrews continues to battle for the national batting average lead going 4-for-8 with four runs scores and two doubles, and is batting .508 (66-for-130) to remain No. 2 in the nation behind Heather Arnett of Pittsburg State (.512/87-for-170).

 

Western's pitching and defense also had a banner day in at Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field, with Alli Kimball (5.0 IP, 3 H, 2 R), Joie Baker (3.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R) and Kaiana Kong (2.0 IP, 0 R) combining to hold the Wildcats to two runs over 10.0 innings. The Vikings made only one fielding miscue in 41 total chances to improve the season fielding percentage to a league-best .973.

 

The Vikings and Wildcats wrap up the four-game GNAC series Saturday with the first game of the doubleheader set to begin at 1 pm at Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
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The Vikings opened Friday's doubleheader with a 15-2 victory in a run-rule-shortened five innings.

 

WWU reached the 30-win mark for the season powered by 16 hits and a 12-run 4th inning to defeat the Wildcats improving to 30-10 on the season and 14-3 in GNAC play.

 

Catcher Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez paved the way going 3-for-3 with a walk and recorded 5 RBI to tie her single-game career high. Her 4th-inning grand slam cleared the fence in left-center field for her 6th home run of the season (24th as a Viking).

 

Leadoff hitter and third baseman Maleah Andrews went 3-for-5 with 3 RBI to raise her season batting average to .512 to continue her quest to lead the nation in hitting.

 

First baseman Oliva Matlock and designated player Nyree Johnson both notched a pair of hits and RBI in the victory. Johnson provided a key two-run double in the top of the 1st inning to put the Vikings up 3-0 early. Left fielder Lexi Barcomb went 2-for-4 and made a run-saving catch in the bottom of the 3rd inning.

 

Starting pitcher Alli Kimball improved to 13-3 on the season winning her fifth consecutive start, logging the 5-inning complete game by allowing just three hits and two runs with four strikeouts.

 

 

 

The Vikings completed the doubleheader sweep over the Wildcats with another run-rule-shortened game earning the 12-0 victory.

 

WWU again used two big innings to secure the victory, scoring three runs in the 1st inning and put the game out of reach with eight runs in the top of the 4th inning.

 

Second baseman Kanilehua Pitoy led the 14-hit attack going 3-for-4 with 3 runs scored, a double and hit her first home run of the season. Designated player Emma Andrewjeski-Ramirez completed a perfect day at the plate going 2-for-2 with a walk, two doubles and a pair of RBI. All nine starters recorded at least one hit in the game.

 

Western's pitching was again dominating holding the Wildcats to two hits, with starter Joie Baker tossing 3.0 no-hit innings to earn the win (11-7) and reliever Kaiana Kong closing out the win with 2.0 scoreless innings.

 

 

The Vikings (31-10, 15-3 GNAC) close out the four-game series in Ellensburg Saturday with the GNAC doubleheader scheduled for a 1 pm first pitch at Gary & Bobbi Frederick Field. Links to follow the live stats and webcast are available at wwuvikings.com/Live. The complete 2025 schedule can be viewed online at wwuvikings.com/Team33.

 

WWU improved to 89-78 all-time vs. Central Washington with Friday's doubleheader sweep and 42-33 all-time in games played in Ellensburg.

 

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

 

 

Here is a look at the updated GNAC standings through Friday's games with the Vikings remaining in first place in the table with a 15-3 conference record. The top four teams in the conference standings at the conclusion of the regular season will qualify for the GNAC Championships held May 1-3 in Nampa, Idaho, with WWU already locking up one of the spots. All updated stats, standings and schedule from the conference are available online at GNACSports.com.