LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. – The Western Washington University softball team split a pair of games Saturday at the D2 West Coast Challenge.
WWU opened the day defeating Colorado Mesa 7-5 and dropped the finale against San Francisco State 18-5 in a run-rule-shortened 5-inning game. The preseason nationally-ranked No. 3 Vikings are 5-5 on the season heading into Sunday's tournament finale against Cal State Dominguez Hills.
The 7-5 victory over the Mavericks came in come-from-behind fashion, trailing 3-0 after the second inning. Junior third baseman Maleah Andrews helped bring the Vikings back into the game with a two-run home run in the top of the third inning.
Trailing 5-3, the Vikings scored four runs in the top of the sixth inning to overcome the deficit and plate the go-ahead run. The go-ahead run scored on a wild pitch and senior shortstop Hailey Rath plated an insurance run with a single to right field.
Freshman Alanna Wirtala (4-2) earned the complete-game victory scattering seven hits and allowing five runs in 7.0 innings. Senior first baseman Olivia Matlock, junior left fielder Rachel Traxler and junior center fielder Laila Carpenter all tabbed multi-hit games. Andrews finished with four RBI.
In the nightcap, the Gators defeated the Vikings behind a pair of big innings, scoring seven in the opening frame and 10 in the third. Andrews was 1-for-2 with a pair of RBI and sophomore EmmaJoy Wise hit her third home run of the season.
Western Washington 7, Colorado Mesa 5 (Feb 07, 2026 at Lake Elsinore, CA)
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Western Washington..... 002 104 0 - 7 8 0 (5-4)
Colorado Mesa.......... 031 010 0 - 5 7 2 (1-4)
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Western Washington - Wirtala and Pewitt
Colorado Mesa - Hagerty; Nehm (5); Tassinari (6) and Pierce
Win-Wirtala (4-2) Loss-Nehm (0-1) T-2:05 A-67
HR WWU - Andrews (2) HR CMU - Kubitschek
San Fran. State 18, Western Washington 5 (Feb 07, 2026 at Lake Elsinore, CA)
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Western Washington..... 003 02 - 5 3 3 (5-5)
San Fran. State........ 71(10) 00 - 18 10 1 (6-3)
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Western Washington - Matlock; Massena (2); Ferguson (4) and Pewitt; Chavez; Wise
San Fran. State - Hernandez; Perez (3) and Rapp; Luttig
Win-Perez (4-1) Loss-Matlock (1-2) T-2:19 A-60
HR WWU – Wise (3)
The Vikings (5-5) close out play in the D2 West Coach Challenge Sunday with a 11:30 am game against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The complete tournament schedule can be viewed at CSUSMCougars.com.
Here is a look at the Vikings record breakdown for the 2026 season:
|
RECORD BREAKDOWN
|
|
Overall
|
5-5
|
|
GNAC
|
0-0
|
|
Non-Conference
|
5-5
|
|
Streak
|
L1
|
|
Home
|
0-0
|
|
Away
|
0-1
|
|
Neutral
|
5-4
|
|
vs. Ranked Teams
|
0-1
|
|
1-Run Games
|
1-1
|
|
2-Run Games
|
1-0
|
|
Extra Innings
|
1-0
|
|
Shutouts
|
1-0
|
|
BY UNIFORM
|
|
Light Blue Pinstripes
|
0-4
|
|
Blue/White
|
2-0
|
|
Black
|
2-1
|
|
Gray
|
0-0
|
|
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 104-30 (.776).
