TRACY, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team opened play in the NorCal Crossover Friday splitting its games with a 3-0 loss to Cal State Monterey Bay and a 7-2 victory over Stanislaus State.

WWU moved to 8-7 on the season heading into a pair of tough games Saturday taking on the top two ranked teams in the nation in the NFCA Division II Coaches Poll. The Vikings face No. 1 Cal State San Marcos at 9 am on Saturday and No. 2 Cal State East Bay at 2 pm at the Tracy Sports Complex.

Senior shortstop Hailey Rath recorded a hit in both games of the doubleheader to extend her hitting streak to 10 consecutive games, combining to go 4-for-8 with two doubles. Playing in her 188th consecutive game – marking every game of her collegiate career – Rath equaled the WWU career hits record of 218. With one more hit she will break the mark set by former teammate Kanilehua Pitoy (2022-25). Rath drove in one run to become the all-time program RBI leader with 157, breaking the old mark of 156 set by All-American Emily Benson.

Freshman Payton Chacon went 3-for-7 in the two games combined, highlighted by going 3-for-5 in the win over Stanislaus State. Senior first baseman Olivia Matlock went 3-for-4 with two RBI in the win over Stanislaus State.

Western received solid pitching throughout the day with freshman Alanna Wirtala going 1-1 with a 1.85 ERA. The reigning GNAC Pitcher of the Week pitched a complete game in the tight loss to Monterey Bay and pitched in relief earning the win over Stanislaus State. In 11.1 innings she allowed three runs, struck out eight and walked two. Sophomore Evalyn Massena started the second game allowing two unearned runs in 2.2 innings.

Cal St. Monterey Bay 3, Western Washington 0

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Cal St. Monterey Bay.... 200 010 0 -  3  6  0      (11-4)

Western Washington...... 000 000 0 -  0  3  1      (7-7)

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Cal St. Monterey Bay – Nulick and Calzada 

Western Washington - Wirtala and Wise

Win-Nulick (3-2)  Loss-Wirtala (6-4)  T-1:51  A-44

HR CSUMB - Martinez (4)

Western Washington 7, Stanislaus State 2

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Western Washington..... 102 310 0 -  7 14  0      (8-7)

Stanislaus State....... 101 000 0 -  2  5  1      (7-5)

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Western Washington - Massena; Wirtala (3) and Wise

Stanislaus State - Camarena; Camberos (4) and Hogue

Win-Wirtala (7-4)  Loss-Camarena (1-2)  T-2:21  A-101

The Vikings (8-7) are back in action with two games Saturday at the NorCal Crossover in Tracy, California. WWU faces No. 1 Cal State San Marcos and No. 2 Cal State East Bay on Saturday, and completes play Sunday against Chico State 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:

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 107-32 (.770).