IRVINE, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team dropped a pair of games Saturday at the CUI Kickoff Classic.
WWU lost the opener 12-3 to San Francisco State in a run-rule-shortened five innings and suffered a walk-off 5-4 loss to tournament host CUI in the nightcap.
The Vikings are 2-2 on the season after opening the tournament with wins over Chico State (2-1) and Chaminade (8-4) on Friday. WWU concludes the five-game tournament Sunday morning against Hawai'i Pacific.
GAME 1 – San Francisco State 12, WWU 3 (5 innings)
San Francisco State jumped scored five runs in the first inning and nine in its first three at-bats on the way to defeating the Vikings 12-3 in a run-rule-shortened five innings.
WWU scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run double by designated player Emily McCutcheon and added a single tally in the third inning on a RBI double by EmmaJoy Wise.
Sophomore Evalyn Massina made her collegiate pitching debut allowing one earned run (4 total runs) and three hits in 3.0 innings.
San Francisco State 12, Western Washington 3 (Jan 31, 2026 at Irvine, CA)
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San Fran. State........ 531 21 - 12 7 0 (2-2)
Western Washington..... 201 00 - 3 5 4 (2-1)
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SFSU - Caratachea and Rapp
WWU - Ferguson; Matlock (1); Massena (3) and Chavez; Pewitt
Win-Caratachea (1-1) Loss-Ferguson (0-1) T-1:45 A-96
The Vikings dropped the nightcap against CUI 5-4 with the Golden Eagles recording the walk-off victory.
WWU led 4-1 through five innings, but the tournament host scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth and scored the game-winning run on a throwing error by shortstop Hailey Rath with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning. CUI looked to win the game on a double to left field by Audrey Roble, but the potential winning run was cut down on a relay from Rachel Traxler to Rath to Maddie Pewitt.
Freshman starting pitcher Alanna Wirtala was again impressive in the circle logging the complete game allowing three earned runs in 6.2 innings with four strikeouts.
Senior third baseman Maleah Andrews went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles out of the leadoff spot and sophomore designated player Emily McCutcheon went 2-for-3.
Concordia Irvine 5, Western Washington 4 (Jan 31, 2026 at Irvine, CA)
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Western Washington..... 100 210 0 - 4 6 2 (2-2)
Concordia Irvine....... 000 103 1 - 5 9 3 (3-1)
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Western Washington - Wirtala and Pewitt
Concordia Irvine - Estes; Valenzuela (4); Gossett (7) and JeanBlanc; Kneubuhler
Win-Gossett (2-0) Loss-Wirtala (1-1) T-2:15 A-78
The Vikings (2-2) close out play in the 2026 CUI Kickoff Classic Sunday morning taking in Hawai'i Pacific in an 8:30 am game at Great Park. WWU continues its 11-game Southern California road trip next week playing one game against Colorado Christian on Tuesday (11 am) and then five more games in the D2 West Coach Challenge at Rosetta Canyon Sports Park in Lake Elsinore, California.
Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2026 season:
|
RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall
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2-2
|
|
GNAC
|
0-0
|
|
Non-Conference
|
2-2
|
|
Streak
|
L2
|
|
Home
|
0-0
|
|
Away
|
0-1
|
|
Neutral
|
2-1
|
|
vs. Ranked Teams
|
0-0
|
|
1-Run Games
|
1-1
|
|
2-Run Games
|
0-0
|
|
Extra Innings
|
1-0
|
|
Shutouts
|
0-0
|
|
BY UNIFORM
|
|
Light Blue Pinstripes
|
0-2
|
|
Blue/White
|
2-0
|
|
Navy
|
0-0
|
|
Gray
|
0-0
|
|
White/Navy
|
0-0
|
|
Gray/Blue
|
0-0
|
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:
|
Date
|
Opponent
|
Score
|
Field
|
|
Friday, 1/30
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Chico State
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W, 2-1 (8)
|
#1
|
|
Friday, 1/30
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Chaminade
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W, 8-4
|
#4
|
|
Saturday, 1/31
|
San Francisco State
|
L, 12-3 (5)
|
#1
|
|
Saturday, 1/31
|
CUI
|
L, 5-4
|
Stadium
|
|
Sunday, 2/1
|
Hawai'i Pacific
|
8:30 am
|
#3
|
The WWU softball program enters its 34th season in 2026 while coming off a historic 47-13 season in 2025. The Vikings claimed their fourth GNAC title by winning the 2025 postseason tournament and advanced to the NCAA Division II Championships for the seventh time in program history. Playing in the NCAA postseason for the seventh time, WWU won its second consecutive West Regional title defeating Cal State East Bay in the sub-regional and Cal State San Marcos in the Super Regional. The historic season ended playing in the D2 World Series in Chattanooga, Tennessee, reaching the semifinal round (Final Four). WWU has posted a winning record 22 times during the 33-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. Over the last three seasons the program has combined to go 101-27 (.789).
