TRACY, Calif. – Led by a home run from shortstop Hailey Rath and a combined stellar pitching performance from Evalyn Massena and Alanna Wirtala, the Western Washington University softball team completed its five-game NorCal Crossover schedule with a 4-1 victory over Chico State.
WWU finished the three-day tournament at the Tracy Sports Complex with a 3-2 record, while taking on a tough West Region schedule. The Vikings improved to 10-8 on the season with Sunday's 4-1 victory.
Western scored in each of the first two innings to take a 2-1 victory and Rath blew the game open with a two-run home run to left-center field for her team-leading sixth homer of the season and 28th of her career to gain sole possession of second place in program history. The senior finished 1-for-3 extending her consecutive games on-base streak to 14 in a row.
Sophomore starting pitcher Evalyn Massena (2-0) allowed one run in 4.1 innings to record her second win in as many days and freshman Alanna Wirtala notched her first career save allowing one hit in 2.2 scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Senior first baseman Olivia Matlock went 1-for-2 with one RBI and was the Vikings leading hitter in the tournament going 7-for-16 with seven RBI. Freshman leadoff hitter Payton Chacon went 2-for-4 with a stolen base, capping a 7-for-18 (.389) tournament at the plate.
Western Washington 4, Chico State 1
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Chico State.......... 010 000 0 - 1 6 1 (6-5)
Western Washington... 110 020 X - 4 9 0 (10-8)
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Chico State – Tavares, Valdez and Swihart
Western Washington – Massena, Wirtala (5) and Wise
Win-Massena (2-0) Save-Wirtala (1) Loss-Tavares (1-3) T-1:54 A-32
HR WWU - Rath (6)
The Vikings (10-8) are back in action next week with a four-game non-conference series at Saint Martin's March 6-7 at Saints Field in Lacey. 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:
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RECORD BREAKDOWN
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|
Overall
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10-8
|
|
GNAC
|
0-0
|
|
Non-Conference
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10-8
|
|
Streak
|
W2
|
|
Home
|
2-0
|
|
Away
|
0-1
|
|
Neutral
|
8-7
|
|
vs. Ranked Teams
|
1-2
|
|
1-Run Games
|
2-1
|
|
2-Run Games
|
1-1
|
|
Extra Innings
|
1-0
|
|
Shutouts
|
2-1
|
|
BY UNIFORM
|
|
Light Blue Pinstripes
|
0-4
|
|
Navy/White
|
3-1
|
|
Black
|
3-2
|
|
Gray
|
3-1
|
|
White/Navy
|
1-0
|
|
Gray/Blue
|
0-0
|
The WWU softball is in 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 109-33 (.768).
