BELLINGHAM, Wash. – The Western Washington University softball team split its Saturday doubleheader against Western Oregon University at Viking Field.
WWU won the opener 10-2 in a 6-inning game shortened due to the run rule, exploding for eight runs in the 5th inning and earned the walk-off victory. The Vikings held a 6-5 lead in the nightcap heading into the 7th inning, but WOU fought back with a 2-run home run by shortstop Lauren Mauer to earn the 7-6 victory taking the four-game series 3-1.
The Vikings are 14-11 heading into their one-week break for finals week and return to play March 27-28 hosting Central Washington in a GNAC-opening four-game series.
Junior third baseman Maleah Andrews was perfect at the plate in the doubleheader going 6-for-6 and reached base in all eight plate appearances also drawing a pair of walks. Senior shortstop Hailey Rath hit her team-leading 10th home run of the season and sophomore catcher EmmaJoy Wise hit her fourth longball in the nightcap.
Freshman starting pitcher Alanna Wirtala recorded the win in the opener to pick up her 11th victory, and took the loss in the second game. She combined to allow three earned runs in 6.2 innings over both games. Sophomore Evalyn Massena started both games allowing four runs in 6.1 innings.
Western Washington 10, Western Oregon 2 (Game 1)
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Western Oregon......... 000 020 - 2 5 2 (13-11)
Western Washington..... 000 082 - 10 9 1 (14-10)
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WOU: Stansbury, Fullmer, (6) and Cordero
WWU: Massena, Wirtala (5) and Wise
Win-Wirtala (11-6) Loss-Stansbury (3-1) T-1:55
Western Oregon 7, Western Washington 6 (Game 2)
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Western Oregon......... 020 030 2 - 7 7 0 (14-11)
Western Washington..... 012 012 0 - 6 11 2 (14-11)
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WOU: Abbas, Barnett(5), Martin (6) and Bodak, Voll
WWU: Massena, Wirtala (2) and Wise, Pewitt
Win-Martin (3-3) Loss-Wirtala (11-7) T-2:34 A-112
HR WOU - Mauer (2) HR WWU - Rath (10); Wise (4)
The Vikings (14-11) remain at home opening Great Northwest Athletic Conference play hosting in-state rival Central Washington in a four-game series at Viking Field, beginning March 27 with a doubleheader starting at noon. WWU is four games into a season-high 12-game homestand. 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
|
14-11
|
|
GNAC
|
0-0
|
|
Non-Conference
|
14-11
|
|
Streak
|
L1
|
|
Home
|
3-3
|
|
Away
|
3-1
|
|
Neutral
|
8-7
|
|
vs. Ranked Teams
|
1-2
|
|
1-Run Games
|
3-2
|
|
2-Run Games
|
2-2
|
|
Extra Innings
|
1-0
|
|
Shutouts
|
2-1
|
|
BY UNIFORM
|
|
Light Blue Pinstripes
|
0-4
|
|
Navy/White
|
4-2
|
|
Black
|
5-2
|
|
Gray
|
3-1
|
|
White/Navy
|
2-2
|
|
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 113-36 (.758).
