BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team earned a doubleheader sweep over Simon Fraser University in its home opener Saturday at Viking Field.
The Vikings won the opening game 2-1 behind a pitching gem from freshman Alanna Wirtala and capped the sweep with a run-rule-shortened 12-4 victory in the nightcap. WWU improved to 7-6 on the season while playing at Viking Field for the first time in 2026.
"I am proud of the way the team stayed in their process today. We definitely played more like ourselves on the defensive side, Alanna has been working hard for us in the circle and Evy had a good outing as well, and it was great to see the team buy into some new things we are implementing on offense," said WWU head coach Sheryl Gilmore. "Our goal is to just keep finding ways to get better every day. Looking forward to building on today as we move into preparing for our next trip to California."
Wirtala dazzled in the circle, earning the win in both games to improve to 6-3 on the season. The Puyallup native allowed just one run (unearned) in 9.2 innings while striking out, not allowing a walk and scattering six hits.
Sophomore second baseman Haylee Kim was the Viking hitting hero in the doubleheader combining to go 4-for-7 with a home run and two RBI. Kim secured the run-rule victory in the second game with a bases loaded hit to the center field wall to bring in the winning run. Sophomore EmmaJoy Wise was 3-for-6 in the doubleheader and freshman Payton Chacon went 3-for-6 with a double and triple.
Haylee Kim hit her first home run of the season (second of career) Saturday vs. SFU
Senior shortstop Hailey Rath hit a grand slam for her 27th career home run (2nd-most in WWU history) and led the squad with five RBI. Rath recorded a hit in both games to extend her hitting streak to eight consecutive games while playing in her 186th consecutive game (all games possible during her career).
Junior third baseman Maleah Andrews scored a pair of runs to set the WWU all-time record with 135 career runs scored, breaking the previous mark of 134 runs scored by Michelle Wrigley (2008-11).
Sophomore Evalyn Massena contributed 2.0 scoreless innings in a starting role in the second game.
In the doubleheader the Vikings combined to go 19-for-53 (.358) with seven extra-base hits (2B-3, 3B-2, HR-2) and made just one error in the field.
Western Washington 2, Simon Fraser 1 (Game 1)
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Simon Fraser.......... 000 010 0 - 1 3 3 (2-10)
Western Washington.... 001 010 X - 2 6 1 (6-6)
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Simon Fraser - Bourque and Sugrive
Western Washington - Wirtala and Wise
Win-Wirtala (5-3) Loss-Bourque (2-5) T-1:43
Western Washington 14, Simon Fraser 4 (Game 2)
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Simon Fraser.......... 013 00 - 4 9 2 (2-11)
Western Washington.... 060 06 - 12 13 0 (7-6)
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Simon Fraser - Franklin; Rust (4) and Sugrive
Western Washington - Massena; Matlock (3); Wirtala (3) and Wise
Win-Wirtala (6-3) Loss-Franklin (0-3) T-1:56 A-124
HR WWU – Rath (5), Kim (1)
The Vikings (7-6) head back to the road next week playing five games in the NorCal Crossover in Tracy, California. WWU will face a tough tournament slate facing No. 2 Cal State San Marcos and No. 3 Cal State East Bay on Saturday, also playing CCAA schools Cal State Monterey Bay, Stanislaus State and Chico State in the three-day tournament at the Tracy Sports Complex. More information on the 2026 season can be found at WWUVikings.com/Team34.
Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2026 season:
|
RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall
|
7-6
|
|
GNAC
|
0-0
|
|
Non-Conference
|
7-6
|
|
Streak
|
W2
|
|
Home
|
2-0
|
|
Away
|
0-1
|
|
Neutral
|
5-5
|
|
vs. Ranked Teams
|
0-1
|
|
1-Run Games
|
2-1
|
|
2-Run Games
|
1-1
|
|
Extra Innings
|
1-0
|
|
Shutouts
|
1-0
|
|
BY UNIFORM
|
|
Light Blue Pinstripes
|
0-4
|
|
Navy/White
|
2-1
|
|
Black
|
2-1
|
|
Gray
|
2-0
|
|
White/Navy
|
1-0
|
|
Gray/Blue
|
0-0
|
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 106-31 (.774).
