IRVINE, Calif. – The No. 3 nationally ranked Western Washington University softball team closed out the opening week of the 2026 season with a 13-0 shutout victory over Hawai'i Pacific University Sunday morning at the CUI Kickoff Classic.

The Vikings finished the five-game tournament 3-2 and continue its season-opening 11-game Southern California trip Tuesday playing a neutral-site game vs. Colorado Christian in Lake Elsinore, California.

WWU bounced back from a tough loss Saturday night vs. tournament host CUI (5-4 walk-off), wasting little time putting up a great response. Senior shortstop Hailey Rath hit her second home run of the season in the top of the first inning and Western scored seven runs in the top of the second.

Rath went 2-for-3 with four runs scored and two RBI, sophomore right fielder EmmaJoy Wise was 2-for-2 with three RBI and junior center fielder Laila Carpenter went 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

Freshman starting pitcher Alanna Wirtala improved to 2-1 on the season with 3.1 scoreless innings, allowing two hits and struck out three batters. In three appearances to open her collegiate career Wirtala has 18 strikeouts in 18.0 innings with a 1.56 ERA (4 ER, 18.0 IP).

Sophomore Evalyn Massina (0.2 IP) and freshman Mac Ferguson (1.0 IP) closed out the shutout performance.

In five games the Vikings offense combined to bat .311 (42-for-135) with 12 doubles, one triple, two home runs and scored 30 runs.

Western Washington 13, Hawaii Pacific 0 (Feb 01, 2026 at Irvine, CA)

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Western Washington....... 170 23 - 13 11  0      (3-2)

Hawaii Pacific........... 000 00 -  0  2  3      (1-4)

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WWU - Wirtala; Massena (4); Ferguson (5) and Chavez; Pewitt

HPU - Oseguera; Cummings (2) and Rodela; Cote

Win-Wirtala (2-1)  Loss-Oseguera (0-1)  T-1:33  A-48

HR WWU - Rath (2)

The Vikings (3-2) remain in Southern California taking on Colorado Christian on Tuesday in an 11 am game in Lake Elsinore and play five more games in the D2 West Coach Challenge at Rosetta Canyon Sports Park in Lake Elsinore, California next Friday-Sunday.

Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2026 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 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 102-27 (.791).